According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the doctor was accused of negligence and incompetence following the Sept. 2002 delivery of a baby weighing more than 9 pounds to a 26-year-old mother. The birth took place at Watsonville Community Hospital in California.
The report stated that the doctor was reprimanded for actions leading up to a birth injury, including failing to follow-up on earlier tests that showed the mother to have gestational diabetes -- a condition that can complicate the birthing process. Overweight mothers carrying large infants are at greater risk for birth injuries that occur during difficult vaginal births.
The Sentinel reported that the doctor used excessive suction pulls to deliver the baby, whose shoulder got stuck behind the mother's pubic bone (a birthing difficulty sometimes referred to as Shoulder Dystocia). The infant was later diagnosed with Erbs Palsy -- a condition resulting from nerve damage that causes paralysis of the muscles in the shoulder, arm and hand.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida birth injury lawyers follow Erb's Palsy, shoulder dystocia and brachial plexus injury cases such as this one that occur in Florida hospitals and medical centers. Following the reprimand (the mildest form of discipline given to a physician), the doctor in the California case was ordered to attend training sessions and pass an exam.
Obstetrician accused of negligence is reprimanded
Santa Cruz Sentinel, Feb. 3, 2010
Related Web Resources
]]>The office of State Attorney Michael McAuliffe of Palm Beach County, Florida, is hosting a summit in West Palm Beach to look at the growing problem of pain clinics, drug trafficking, and prescription drug abuse. The Prescription Drug Abuse and Pain Clinic Summit, held in late Feb., will bring together medical officials, law enforcement personnel, and policymakers to examine the problem.
Last year, several pain management clinics in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County and Broward County, Florida, came under investigation for illegally selling prescription drugs. (See Florida Elder Care Alert: Fort Lauderdale, Broward & Palm Beach County Pain Clinics Scrutinized.) SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) reports that drug abuse among senior citizens is on the rise, as the Baby Boom generation ages.
Florida medication error lawyers have knowledge pertaining to product liability, prescription drugs, and medical malpractice as they all impact the care of our senior citizens.
Overdose of powerful prescription pain drugs such as opioids can lead to wrongful death. Experts at the Feb. 2010 Summit, which will be held Clayton Hutcheson Agricultural Center in West Palm Beach, will discuss legislation for greater self-regulation in the Florida medical industry.
West Palm Beach summit takes look at prescription drug abuse, pain clinics
Sun-Sentinel.com Feb. 22, 2010
Drug Use Rising Among Seniors; Baby Boomers Continue Using, SAMHSA Says
Jan. 11, 2010
Related Web Resources
Florida State Attorney Michael F. McAuliffe, Palm Beach County, Florida
]]>The case came to light last fall when news media reported that a nurse at the South Florida medical center had been reusing lengths of IV tubing and bags on cardiac patients who submitted to intravenous stress tests between Jan. 2004 and Sept. 2009. (See Medical Liability Raised in Broward General Hospital Contaminated Blood Case: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Police Investigating).
Broward General issued a patient notice update on its website Feb. 15, 2010, on how many potentially affected patients had been contacted by certified mail to come in for screenings; how many had confirmed receipt; along with other patient communication data related to this case. According to the medical center website, 1,851 patients may have been exposed to disease by this nurse's actions. Patients are being voluntarily tested for HIV, and Hepatitis B and C. The medical center reports that to date, 929 patient test results had been received from LabCorp.
Though Broward General states that the nurse responsible for reusing IV equipment in pharmalogical stress tests acted independently, many questions about medical liability and negligence surround this troubling case. The medical center website states that after Feb. 15, 2010, updates on patient notice efforts will be posted every other week.
Fort Lauderdale medical negligence attorneys familiar with the Broward General Medical Center case in South Florida work with patients and families whose members may have contracted serious diseases due to practices not in keeping with proper medical protocols and sterile procedures.
]]>There is concern that the front drive shaft in some 2010 Tacoma trucks could be cracked -- an equipment manufacturing defect that could lead to malfunction and loss of vehicle control, which in turn could cause serious car and truck accidents.
The Tacoma recall is just the latest in a series of public safety and public relations problems for Toyota, which has been in the headlines since late last year when news of fatal car accidents blamed on faulty gas pedals came to light. An additional braking problem with hybrids such as the Prius prompted an additional recall -- while Toyota had shut down manufacturing and tried to come up with fixes for millions of vehicles.
Florida truck accident attorneys with experience handling product liability and defective auto parts cases monitor safety recalls such as this one closely. The Toyota Tacoma recall is a voluntary recall for owners to bring their trucks to a dealer for the drive shaft to be inspected and repaired, if needed. The Toyota website states that owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail beginning in March.
Pickup trucks used to be mainly driven by construction workers and others who needed a powerful vehicle to haul equipment and supplies for work purposes. Now pickup trucks with modern comforts and amenities, such as the Toyota Tacoma, are driven by many people who simply like to drive trucks -- whether for off-roading, commuting to work, taxiing the family, or pulling trailers for recreational activities such as boating. If you live in Florida and are driving a 2010 Toyota Tacoma, contact your local dealer or visit Toyota.com for more information.
Truck recall adds to Toyota's troubles
AFP, Yahoo! News Feb. 13, 2010
Toyota Extends Recall To 2010 Tacoma Trucks
AP, Fox40News.com Feb. 12, 2010
Toyota Announces Voluntary Recall on 8,000 2010 Model Year Tacoma 4WD Trucks to Inspect the Front Drive Shaft
Toyota.com News Release, Feb. 12, 2010
Related Web Resources
]]>Distracted-driving traffic accidents in Florida cause injury and death on our highways and streets. The problem of drivers talking on cell phones and typing text messages is a major concern among Florida and national safety advocates:
> Currently 19 states ban all drivers from texting while driving, while another 9 ban the practice for youth-aged drivers.
> The U.S. Dept. of Transportation also banned texting while driving for commercial vehicles, in an effort to cut down on bus and truck accidents.
> President Obama banned Federal employees from texting while driving.
The pending Florida highway safety legislation (SB 328 and HB 323) is one of several highway-safety bills targeting distracted driving in Florida. If passed, drivers caught texting while driving would be subject to fines. Texting while driving has become a more serious and dangerous traffic safety problem, as more and more people -- including teenagers -- use cell phones and hand-held devices to type and send each other text messages. Fatal car accidents have been linked to texting while driving. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 1.6 million traffic crashes annually -- or 28% of all auto crashes -- are caused by cell phone use or texting while driving.
Fort Myers car accident injury lawyers are well aware of what can happen when drivers take their eyes off the road in South Florida, even for just an instant.
The risk of causing a serious traffic accident increases when drivers are doing other things and not paying attention to what's around them. Florida's busy interstates, highways and city streets are challenging enough for drivers. Texting is an example of how technologies that bring convenience to our automobiles -- when used while driving -- can cause serious car crashes, injury, and death.
Florida legislators propose fines for drivers who text
News-Press.com Feb. 9, 2010
Related Web Resources
National Safety Council: Distracted Driving
Distracted Driving: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
]]>Toyota's latest safety recall involves its popular hybrid model, Prius -- which reportedly has a glitch in the braking system. Owners report the brakes fail to engage immediately when applied over rough roads, which could lead to serious auto accidents. The Prius recall adds to the public relations nightmare for Toyota, which hit news headlines late last year for problems with gas pedals becoming ensnared in floor mats.
The Toyota gas pedal recall expanded to millions of cars, trucks, and SUVs earlier this year, with reports of gas pedals being slow to rise when drivers try to decelerate their vehicles.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida product liability lawyers with experience in personal injury cases involving defective auto parts are watching these latest consumer recalls carefully. CNN reports that there are already several lawsuits in the works against Toyota, as nervous consumers wonder if the car in their driveway is safe to drive.
Honda recalls 438,000 cars for airbag hazard
CNN.com Feb. 10, 2010
Toyota Recall -- Special Coverage
CNN.com Feb. 9, 2010
Related Web Resources
Statement by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Regarding Expansion of Driver's Airbag Inflator Recall
Honda News Release, Feb. 9, 2010
The Martin County Sheriff's Office reported that a lifeguard saw a kite board surfer in trouble about 500 yards off shore near Stuart, Florida. The lifeguard, who paddled out to assist, found Stephen Howard Schafer on his board bleeding and surrounded by sharks. The victim was brought to an area hospital but died of his injuries.
Stuart, Florida is in Martin County south of Fort Pierce and north of West Palm Beach, in the Port St. Lucie, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Kiteboard surfers strap their feet to a board and are pulled along the water by a sail. Like traditional surfing, it's a form of water recreation enjoyed by adventurous people who appreciate Florida's sun, sand, and surf. A Palm Beach County, Florida accident lawyer is aware that any type of water sports recreation comes with some risk of injury or even death. This includes boat accidents, personal watercraft accidents, surfing accidents, and parasailing accidents.
A Miami, Florida newspaper reported that the beach in Stuart remained open after the fatal shark attack. The last fatal shark attack in the Sunshine State occurred off the Florida Panhandle in 2005. It is unknown at this time what type of sharks were involved in this fatal attack near Stuart, Florida.
Kiteboarder dies in rare fatal shark attack off Florida
Associated Press, Miami Herald Feb. 4, 2010
Lifeguard describes rescue of shark attack victim
Associated Press, Yahoo! News Feb. 4, 2010
Related Web Resources
Florida Museum of Natural History: How to Avoid a Shark Attack
International Shark Attack File
Toyota, which has prided itself as an industry leader in building safe, reliable cars, has expanded its safety recall of millions of vehicles. They've also done what no other auto manufacturer has ever done before -- stopped production and sales while they try to identify the source of a suspected automotive defect that could lead to deadly traffic accidents on Florida and U.S. roads and highways. Six factories so far are involved in the shutdown.
Problems for Toyota made the news last year when in November, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that the auto maker had a fix for a problem with the gas pedal becoming entrapped by floor mats on some models. The serious safety issue came to light after fatal car crashes were attributed to the accelerator getting stuck and motorists being unable to stop their out-of-control, speeding vehicles (see previous blog entry, Florida Driving Alert: Toyota Lexus Issues Safety Advisory After Fatal Car Accident Involving Floor Mats).
However, Toyota has now expanded the recall in the U.S. and to Europe and has stopped production and sale of vehicles that may have the potential for the same deadly problem. It is unclear what repairs or redesign Toyota will come up with to permanently fix the problem. The Associated Press reports that Toyota learned about an accelerator problem for the Tundra in March 2007; concerns about truck accidents arose when owners reported the gas pedal was slow to rise when they tried to slow down.
Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers follow automotive safety recalls closely, as they involve auto manufacturer product liability and Florida driver safety. We have not heard the last in this historic automotive recall and production and sales stoppage -- as Toyota works to identify and fix the source of the problem, dealers stand by idle with showrooms and lots full of cars, and consumers wonder what to do with vehicles that they thought were safe to drive. Car and Driver reported that owners of affected cars may be able to ask for and obtain loaner vehicles (see link below), though to date, Toyota had not issued a mandate for dealers to loan out other cars.
Toyota recalls additional 1.09M vehicles in US
Associated Press, MiamiHerald.com Jan. 28, 2010
Background: Toyota Announces Fix for Accelerator Pedal Entrapment Problem
NHTSA Press Release Nov. 25, 2009
Related Web Resources
Frequently Asked Questions For Sticking Accelerator Pedal Recall and Suspension of Sales
Toyota Press Room Jan. 2010
List of Recalled Toyota Models
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Jan. 28, 2010
How To: Safely Drive a Recalled Toyota (Or Score a Loaner)
Car and Driver Jan. 27, 2010
Toyota recall Q & A: What to do if your car suddenly accelerates
Los Angeles Times Jan. 28, 2010
According to news reports, three-year old Gage Root suffered several broken bones and other serious injuries in Oct. of 2008, when he jumped out of a child's wagon being pulled by his aunt and ran across a construction site on Del Prado Blvd near Kismet Pkway. The boy was struck and dragged by a vehicle that did not stop at the accident scene. Police identified the maroon Lincoln involved in the Florida hit-and-run crash as belonging to Kenneth W. Upmann, 43.
News reports state that Upmann had left Florida during the police investigation, but tips led authorities to his location in Warren, Illinois. He was extradited back to Florida. Last week, a Lee Circuit Court judge gave Upmann a plea deal of two years in prison and three years probation.
Fort Myers pedestrian accident lawyers follow cases such as this where people out for a walk in Florida are seriously injured or killed by hit and run drivers.
Construction zone accidents are unfortunately not all that uncommon. Safety advocates advise pedestrians, motorists, police, flaggers and road workers at construction sites to use extra caution to avoid car-pedestrian accidents.
(See related blog entry Report Sheds Light on South Florida Highway Construction Zone Accidents & Deaths).
Man accused of running over Cape Coral boy strikes plea deal
News-Press.com Jan. 14, 2010
Suspect in Hit-and-Run Accident from October Arrested in Illinois
CapeCoral.net May 8, 2009
Brachial plexus injury and Erbs Palsy are paralyzing conditions that can arise when medical mistakes are made during child birth.
Along with shoulder dystocia, these types of birth injuries can occur during a difficult delivery process, for example when the infant's shoulder gets "stuck" -- resulting in nerve damage that can affect mobility and usage of the shoulders, arms, and hands.
Florida Erbs Palsy lawyers are versed in the medical liability, malpractice, and negligence issues surrounding these types of debilitating birthing injuries. Responsible doctors are aware of a patient's medical history and communicate with the mother about her birthing options, particularly when vaginal birth may cause difficulties (e.g., in overweight women or those who have experienced difficult vaginal births in the past).
The miracle of childbirth always comes with risks. The new journal article concludes that, "Infants delivered by cesarean are at risk for different types of birth trauma from infants delivered vaginally." A brachial plexus injury attorney who has worked with Florida families and injured children knows that mothers should be informed by their doctors and obstetricians of their risks and options prior to actually delivering their babies.
Route of delivery and neonatal birth trauma (Abstract -- Article In Press)
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Jan. 15, 2010
Citation: Moczygemba CK, Paramsothy P, Meikle S, et al. Route of delivery and neonatal birth trauma. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2010;202:x.ex-x.ex.
Related Web Resources
]]>The December Tylenol drug recall was issued after consumers complained of a moldy smell coming from the product, causing nausea and other gastro-intestinal distress. The odor has been linked to a chemical used to treat wooden palettes used in product storage. This month, Johnson & Johnson expanded the recall to include other products including St. Joseph's Aspirin, Benadryl, Motrin and Rolaids. See link below to Product Recall List where consumers can search for their products' lot numbers.
Broward County, Florida defective product lawyers follow cases such as this one closely, when OTC medications or prescription drug recalls make the news due to people becoming sick, experiencing severe side-effects, or in some cases, suffering wrongful death (e.g., manufacturer Merck pulled its arthritis drug Vioxx from the market in 2004 after the drug was connected to heart attacks, a fatal skin disease, and serious intestinal problems).
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitor product liability issues such as the Tylenol case, to protect consumer health and well being. The FDA posts a public list of medical product recalls on its website (see link below), including recalled drugs and medical equipment.
Tylenol recall expanded to Motrin, Benadryl, more
USAToday.com Jan. 18, 2010
McNeil Product Recall Press Release
Related Web Resources
]]>Fort Myers, Florida car accident lawyers may be consulted in cases where negligent or reckless driving may have contributed to serious traffic accidents resulting in injury or death.
Accident in Fort Myers Shores injures four
NBC-2.com Jan. 12, 2010
Victim in fatal Fort Myers I-75 crash identified
NewsPress.com Jan. 11, 2010
One person dead in North Fort Myers accident
NBC-2.com Jan. 8, 20108
According to the report, highway construction zone accidents are sometimes caused by driver error, with speed, driving under the influence, and other forms of reckless driving to blame. Highway construction sites often involve lane reductions, cones, concrete barriers, and other unexpected obstacles -- as well as construction workers in or near the road and construction equipment. Drivers who fail to safely slow down and move over or negotiate a highway construction site can cause serious and fatal accidents involving motorists, police on detail, and the construction workers themselves.
The report also points to highway construction company liability, citing a 2007 crash in Sarasota, Florida, where a "rolling roadblock" for work being done on Interstate 75 resulted in 10 people injured and 2 motorists killed in a single night. The report discusses how highway construction sites are managed, how traffic is flowed around them, and the actual road conditions created during highway construction. All can cause hazards that can be deadly if a car or truck accident occurs in the construction zone.
Florida highway traffic accident lawyers are knowledgeable about driving laws and safety regulations designed to keep motorists, construction workers, law enforcement, and emergency personnel safe on Florida's highways.
Fatal Florida I-95 Construction Zone Accident Investigation Continues
Barely a week after The Times report was published, a four-car crash occurred on Florida I-95 at a highway construction site that left James Toles IV, 19, of Savannah, Georgia, dead and Michael Jones, 18, of Macon, Georgia, seriously injured. Four others were hospitalized. Florida Highway Patrol stated that conditions in the construction zone did not cause the crash, though it appears some victims got outside their vehicles and were struck by other vehicles that came upon the crash scene. The initial crash involved two vehicles including a Saturn that ended up straddling a concrete barrier. The investigation into the accident continues.
Efforts Lag to Improve Safety at Work Zones
NewYorkTimes.com Dec. 22, 2009
Danger in the cone zone
Inadequate review of road construction increases risks
HeraldTribune.com Dec. 26, 2009
Deadly I-95 wreck probe continues
Florida Today Dec. 30, 2009
According to the Sun Sentinel, Plantation Police reported that the fatal car crash happened on New Year's Eve around 8 p.m. on Sunrise Blvd. A black Hyundai was traveling west at a high rate of speed when the driver lost control and struck a brick sign. CBS4 News reported that the sign was at the Plantation Technology Park complex.
Eighteen-year-old David Naboretti from Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, was able to escape the wreckage. He was transported to Broward General Medical Center for treatment. His friends, 18-year-old Ledaaron Sweeting, of North Lauderdale, and 17-year-old John F. Smith, also of Lauderdale Lakes, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Plantation, Florida, auto accident lawyers may be consulted by families who have questions about liability in single-car accidents where death or injury to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians have occurred.
The name of the driver of the car in this fatal South Florida traffic accident has not been released. Police are investigating whether drugs and/or alcohol played a factor leading up to the holiday crash.
Teen recovering from New Year's Eve wreck
Sun-Sentinel.com Jan. 3, 2010
Car Crashes Into Sign In Plantation, Two Men Die
CBS4.com Dec. 31, 2009
Related Web Resources
Teen Driving: Drive with Care
2009 Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Teen Crashes: Everyone Is at Risk (PDF doc)
AAA Foundation Report 2009
According to news reports, on June 10, a scaffolding collapse occurred at the 21 Rio Apartment Complex construction site in Austin, Texas, and three construction workers fell to their deaths. A candlelight vigil was held this month to remember the fallen workers and to bring light to the issue of construction worker safety, construction company liability, and preventing work-related accidents.
OSHA cited Florida-based Capoera Construction with serious violations including "failing to provide a competent person to inspect the scaffold prior to use." The other companies cited by OSHA for safety violations in the construction worker deaths are Andres Construction Services, Greater Metroplex Interiors, and Mast Climber Manufacturing. In total, all companies may face up to $160,000 in fines and other penalties.
South Florida construction accident lawyers know the dangers workers face when they go to work building, repairing, and renovating homes and commercial buildings. OSHA -- the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration -- has guidelines and regulations in place to keep construction workers safe from injury or death.
Florida has a significant Latino and Hispanic population, with many Spanish-speaking workers employed by the construction industry (and related building and maintenance industries such as landscaping and housekeeping). Florida Spanish speaking injury lawyers may assist with cases where Latino or Hispanic construction workers are injured or killed in the course of their jobs, possibly entitling them to Florida Workers Compensation benefits and/or other compensation and damages. OSHA reports that nationally, more than 5,000 workers were fatality injured on the job in 2008.
OSHA issues citations, proposed penalties in construction accident
KVUE.com Dec. 16, 2009
Related Web Resources
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