So associated with our country that our National Anthem is often misinterpreted to include them, fireworks are a part of most Independence Day celebrations. Though the “rockets’ red glare” refers to shells and bombs rather than fireworks, they are still considered a very American way to observe our nation’s birthday. But that does not make …
Memes are ideas or beliefs that spread through a culture. They carry cultural ideas and practices through every form of communication. The problem with memes is sometimes the information is simply wrong. In a Washington Post blog, Dr. Aaron Carroll took it upon himself to address the misinformation most people accept as truth: tort reform …
Almost every teen is guilty of it and it is potentially one of the most dangerous things drivers can do – texting while driving. Last month, WCTV investigated exactly how receiving and responding to a text message impacted driving. Teens were asked to navigate a maze of cones while texting. None of the students who …
In 1992 people around the world were introduced to Stella Liebeck, who was burned when she spilled McDonald’s coffee in her lap and subsequently sued the restaurant for her burns. The lawsuit brought more attention to those seeking tort reform, particularly after the jury awarded Ms. Liebeck $2.86 million. Along with propaganda from insurance companies, …
American Medical Association recently posted an article on their news site about “adverse drug events.” Adverse drug events are health issues that arise as a result of taking a medication or group of medications. An April report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality stated 1.9 million hospitalizations a year are caused by medication …
Guy Boulton and Jason Stein wrote an article for JSonline.com recently on a proposed bill in Wisconsin that would severely affect the compensation that personal injury lawyers can attain for injured people. In an effort to protect businesses from lawsuits, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has proposed statewide legislation that would protect Nursing homes from Punitive …
For many people, putting on a seat belt is an automatic thing. The Florida Times-Union reported seat belt usage rose in 2010 to a record 87.4%. The increase in seat belt usage is reflected in a sharp drop in auto accident deaths . In 2007, there were 65 car accident related deaths in a three …
At the end of last month, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall for close to 1 million pool drain covers. USA Today reported on the recall, noting that this could cause pools to close across the country. Pool drain covers are required by law and are designed to keep swimmers safe. …
Pharmacy error lawyer, I know about the damaging effects of taking the wrong medication. In some cases, it is a doctor’s medication mistake. In others it is the pharmacy’s fault. Business Week reported recently that to prevent some pharmacy dispensing errors , Merck, manufacturer of drugs like Propecia, Cipro, and Nasonex, has redesigned the labels for …
The Huffington Post reported recently on the death of Hayden Walton, a 13-year-old Arizona boy who died after being hit in the chest by a pitch during his little league baseball game. Officials for the league state he took two steps toward first base before collapsing. He died the next morning in the hospital. Walton …
Riding a bicycle is fun, keeps you active, is environmentally friendly and can be a great way to stay in shape. Although bike riding is a common practice in Florida, like many activities, it does have its risks. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows among US bicyclists, 53,000 were injured and 716 …
The Binary Blogger recently posted about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s proposal to put black box event recorders in all vehicles. The agency claims the data collected by this device would be used in investigating car accidents . While in theory this sounds like it could be a positive thing, making crash probes less …
Doctor prescription errors are some of the most common errors related to medications and can often be traced back to illegible writing. Busy doctors do not also make sure the name of the medication and instructions are clearly written on their orders. With many drugs having similar spellings and dosages that can vary greatly, patients …
I recently wrote about the funding cuts Florida nursing homes are facing. The severely reduced budgets are particularly worrisome when I consider one of my clients, Theodore Archer. Mr. Archer’s case was the subject of a recent article in the Miami Herald in a series entitled “Neglected to Death” As the article describes, Mr. Archer …
The decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is a difficult one for many people. Concerns about everything from whether or not the staff is properly trained to the quality of food can influence a caregiver’s choice. Cost is another major factor in the decision and Florida residents are likely to see …
