CA hospitals fined for Endangering Patients

by December 21, 2012
According to the Associated Press, California health officials have fined 12 hospitals $785,000 for mistakes that endangered patients. The California Department of Public Health announced fines Thursday for hospitals including those located in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Some of the fines involved incidents where patients had objects left inside them after operations and had to undergo additional surgery. Others involved wrongly administered medications. In one case, investigators said a doctor’s improper use of a laser device caused or likely caused a patient’s death. In another, a doctor removed the wrong kidney from a patient. The fines ranged from …. » Read more »

Ammonia leak sickens workers at Fresno winery

by October 12, 2012
Authorities say they have fixed an ammonia leak that sickened workers at a Fresno winery, but the area remains cordoned off. Fresno Fire spokesman Sean Johnson says investigators determined that a pipe was the source of a leak discovered Oct. 11, 2012 at the Golden State Vintners plant. The Fresno winery is in an agricultural area, so there are no homes within the 1-mile evacuation zone. However, nearby residents have been advised to stay indoors, turn off their air conditioners and keep their windows closed. Officials say 10 workers were treated for ammonia exposure after the leak created a vapor …. » Read more »

Actos Cancer Lawsuits

by December 1, 2011
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with bladder cancer as a result of using the drug Actos? Actos is a drug that is used by adults suffering from type 2 diabetes to help control blood sugar. While it is effective in controlling glucose levels, it is not worth the increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Actos has been used on diabetes patients since 1999 when the FDA first approved use of the drug. The manufacturer of Actos is Takeda Pharmaceuticals and this company has chosen profits over people. They failed to property warn consumers and doctors, according to …. » Read more »