Little Rock Personal Injury Lawyer - All Topics - Most Popular

Red Tomatoes May Contain Salmonella

Drew Dixon — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:01:19 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration released an alert earlier this week warning consumers in New Mexico (thanks, Mike) and Texas that a Salmonella outbreak may be related to the consumption of certain types of raw red tomatoes and products containing raw red tomatoes. The bacteria, Salmonella serotype Saintpaul, is an uncommon type of Salmonella.

Although the FDA will continue to investigate the specific type and source of the tomatoes, preliminary data suggests that raw red plum, red Roma, or round red tomatoes may be the cause of the outbreak. Tomatoes which have not been implicated and continue to be ok to eat are cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with vines still attached, and tomatoes grown at home.

Salmonellae are frequent causes of food borne illness, especially from poultry and raw eggs and more generally from food that has been cooked or frozen and not eaten straight away. Although most non-typhoidal strains associated with food-borne infection are self-limiting and do not require antibiotics, complicated or systemic infection and infection with specific serovars are indications for antibiotic treatment and often hospitalization.

More Information on safe handling of produce can be found at w.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodsafe.html.

IMAGE SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Drew Dixon

Hospitals May Not Be Doing Enough To Fight MRSA

Drew Dixon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:07:38 GMT

A recent survey of the infection control practitioners found that 54 percent of them believe hospitals aren't doing everything they can to prevent the spread of methicillin- resistant staph aureus (MRSA). According to the Mayo Clinic, MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad spectrum of antibiotics commonly used to treat staph, sometimes leading to death. In fact, MRSA is believed MRSA to lead to more than 19,000 deaths of patients each year.

Staph skin infections, including MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites and can quickly turn to painful, deep abscesses that require surgical draining. MRSA may also penetrate the body causing infections in the bones, joints, surgical wounds, bloodstream, heart valves, and the lungs.

Because the bacterium is spreading broadly beyond hospitals, some state law makers are trying to create new state laws to prevent the spread of MRSA. In Illinois law makers now require hospitals to test all "at risk" patients and patients in intensive care for MRSA and isolate them if they carry the drug resistant bacterium.

For more information on healthcare associated MRSA check out ww.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_MRSA.html.

Image source: Wikimedia commons

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Drew Dixon

Car Accidents Cause Herniated Disc

Sach Oliver — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:59:35 GMT

Motor vehicle accidents cause herniated disc. A disc is a structure that is found between the spinal vertebral bodies from the neck to the tailbone. Discs serves as cushions and help your spine move. A disc is composed of two parts the central part and the outer part. When someone is a car accident where the back is injured, it is common for them to suffer a herniated disc. A herniated disc is when the disc is displaced. Displacement of the disc can cause serious pains and other problems.

According to a medical journal from the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, injuries are a frequent cause of disc herniations. Usually the herniation is associated with sudden violent motion of the spine. The article specifically notes that motor vehicle accidents cause disc herniations. It only makes common sense; during a car accident the victim's spine undergoes extreme sudden and violent motions which cannot be healthy for the spine. (see Lumbar Disc Herniation Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment, Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, 2007)

Radiologist and surgeons us many different terms for disc problems: herniated disc, ruptured disc, protruded disc, prolapsed disk, and slipped disc. When a doctor says one of these terms to you, you have a disc that has been displaced backwards and is pressing on a nerve root or roots.

Pain is the biggest problem with herniated disc. Pain that radiates through the body stemming from where the disc is pinching the nerve is often debilitating. The pain often starts as simple back pain and then moves to the legs. Sometimes, the pain can be so great that it requires surgical treatment.

There are conservative and surgical treatment methods that can help with a herniated disc. To learn more about herniated disc or how a car accident can cause these injuries, contact us for a free consultation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Pressure Sores in Nursing Home Residents

Frank Bailey — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:44:13 GMT

Our frail elderly population is at risk to develop pressure sores in a nursing home environment unless certain rules and protocol are followed by the nursing home staff. Although most pressure sores can be prevented, far too many residents of nursing homes develop pressure sores which go untreated, leading to serious injury, infection and in severe cases death.

In hospitals, the incidence of pressure ulcers ranged from 2.7 percent to 29.5 percent in recent studies. Among persons in skilled care and nursing home-type facilities, prevalence of pressure ulcers was found to be 23 percent.
Certain goals must be followed in order to lessen the incidence of pressure sores:
Goal: Identify at-risk individuals needing prevention and the specific factors placing them at risk. These factors include immobility, incontinence, nutritional factors such as inadequate dietary intake and impaired nutritional status, and altered level of consciousness.
Goal: Protect against adverse effects of external mechanical forces...pressure, friction, and shear. Individuals in bed assessed to be a risk for developing pressure ulcers should be repositioned at least every 2 hours if consistent with overall patient goals. A written schedule for systematically turning and repositioning the individual should be used.
Goal: Reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers through educational programs. An educational program for prevention of pressure ulcers should include information on etiology and risk factors, risk assessment tools and their application, skin assessment, selection and/or use of support surfaces, development and implementation of an individualized program of skin care, demonstration of positioning to decrease risk of tissue breakdown, and instruction on accurate documentation of pertinent data.
Families of nursing home residents must be continually vigilant to protect their loved ones from developing pressure. At the first sign of a red spot on skin, the staff should be notified and appropriate measured taken to prevent further injury. Early intervention by an attorney skilled in nursing home cases of abuse and neglect is often the best tact for families who suspect abuse or neglect.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Nursing Home and Elder Abuse.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Texting Driver Causes Accident In Little Rock

Chrissie Cole — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:35:00 GMT

Robert Biggerstaff was on his way home from work like every other day when his vehicle was T-boned by a 21-year-old driver that admitted to police he was sending texts while driving.

The accident happened last month when the young driver ran a red light on Fort Smith Road. Biggerstafff was left pinned in his truck. He suffered several broken bones, a head injury and a tear in his spleen.

“My uncle was very lucky to walk away from this accident,” said Charly Wesley, Biggerstaff’s niece.

The insurance company is allowing Biggerstaff to keep his vehicle, which his niece said she hopes can be used as a learning tool.

Wesley hopes to partner with a local nonprofit to put together an awareness program to go to schools.

The man responsible for the accident that injured Biggerstaff faces several charges including failure to yield and careless driving.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Does Prempro Cause Breast Cancer

Frank Bailey — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:53:58 GMT

A Reno, Nevada jury fixed damages for three women who took Prempro and Premarin at $35 million in compensatory damages. The jury also assessed $99 million in punitive damages against the manufacturer of the drugs.

The Plaintiffs asserted that they contracted breast cancer from taking the artificial hormones and the jury agreed.
Company documents indicated that the company knew there was a risk of breast cancer associated with the artificial hormones, but failed to complete studies to evaluate the link.
Prempro, contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. It was first sold in 1995. A study in 2002 found an increased risk of breast cancer after taking Prempro. The study began in 1997, and was supposed to continue for eight years. Early data showed the drug's adverse effects and the study was terminated three years early. The study found that Prempro increased the risk of breast cancer by 26%, heart attacks by 29% , strokes by 41% and blood clots by 113%.
Wyeth has won two verdicts in Little Rock, Arkansas, while in other parts of the country plaintiffs have been successful only to have verdicts overturned by judges.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

How To Discover Nursing Home Abuse And Neglect

Frank Bailey — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:25:23 GMT

Nursing home abuse and neglect continues to turn our stomachs. When corporations put profit over people, our country is in a sad state. Our government appears to have little ability to end this problem. It is time for the families of nursing home victims of abuse and neglect to take a stand. Attorneys who are trained in nursing home cases can help to bring the abusive homes to their feet.

Over the years we have allowed greed to invade the corporate structure in America. We read about CEO's who make millions with golden parachutes while the workers, the people who do the work, only get minimum wages.

What are the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect? A bad odor is a good place to start. If the home doesn't keep the residents clean, that is a sign of more serious abuse and neglect. Call lights unanswered for long periods of time because there is not enough staff to provide the care needed is another sign. It is up to a resident's family to be vigilant and at the first sign of nursing home abuse and neglect contact an attorney trained in nursing home abuse and neglect.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Nursing Home and Elder Abuse.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Child Killed on Carnival Ride in Hope

Shannon Weidemann — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:27:22 GMT

A boy and his mother were riding a carnival ride when they were thrown from the ride and then hit by cars from the ride. They were both taken to a local hospital. The 7-year-old boy was transferred to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. He died from his injuries at the hospital.

The operator of the ride, Dewayne Mathis of Hope, said the accident occurred about a minute into the Sizzler's ride sequence. He said that, after the two fell from the car they were riding in, they were struck by other cars of the ride before it came to a halt. He said that, though the motor driving the ride had been shut down, momentum kept the machinery moving.
Mathis said that, after the two were taken to the hospital, he inspected the ride car, and believes a pin that was supposed to secure the safety bar and doors came out of the hole that should have kept it in place. Mathis believes the initial jolt of motion when the ride started broke the spring-loaded mechanism free.

The ride is being inspected and a full investigation is taking place. The ride is not in use until it can be deemed safe.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Propery Owners' Liability.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Shannon Weidemann

President Bush's Medical Malpractice Cap On Damages

Frank Bailey — Mon, 05 May 2008 16:32:09 GMT

The Medicare funding package proposed by President Bush includes another attempt to severely limit the rights of injured patients to hold negligent doctors and hospitals accountable.

I like to call it the “Negligent Doctor Protection Act.” The act contains a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages, the elimination of joint liability, severe restrictions on punitive damages and contingent fees, and a reduced statute of limitations period for filing cases. These provisions would affect all medical malpractice cases.

Rather than helping reduce the Federal deficit, these measures will have just the opposite effect and place the burden of caring for the catastrophically injured on the government rather than the wrongdoer.

Contact your Senator and ask them to vote “no” on S.2662, the “Negligent Doctor Protection Act.”

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey

Birth Injuries And Caps On Damages

Frank Bailey — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:54:54 GMT

Hardly a day passes when there is not another injustice due to arbitrary caps on damages placed there by legislators without looking at the facts of the case. Just today I read about a birth injury case in Virginia that settled for $1.35 million. The child has cerebral palsy and brain damage. Is $1.35 million enough to care for this child for life due to the negligence of doctors? I don’t think so.

The child’s attorney expressed it best, “The cap on malpractice awards imposes a burden on the most severely injured.” Only a few cases involve catastrophic damages, but with caps, it is a double injury to those unfortunate children. Not only are they injured for life, but the wrongdoer is not held responsible for the full amount of harm done.

We all know health care is not as safe as it should be. A very substantial body of evidence points to medical errors as a leading cause of death and injury. The Institute of Medicine found that deaths due to preventable errors exceeded the deaths caused by auto accidents. We have to ask our legislators to take action to see that wrongdoers are held accountable for the harm they cause.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Frank Bailey