Monthly Archives: May 2010

Memorial Day History

Written On May 31, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Web site USMemorialDay.org has an interesting section on the history of Memorial Day. As we pause today to honor our veterans, the history of this day is important. This is the opening section of the Web page:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our [...]

Posted in Miscellaneous, Veterans Benefits

House Committee Approves Auto Safety Bill

Written On May 28, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This week, pushed on by the recent Toyota recalls and runaway acceleration issues, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a new auto safety bill that would impose stricter standards on car makers. The bill now goes to the full House, where it could pass before the end of the year.
The vote, as all votes [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Friday Fun

Written On May 28, 2010 By Bob Kraft

“Get out of there” in dozens of movies. How many can you name?

Click here for the answers.

Posted in Friday Fun

Government Now Says 89 Deaths Linked to Toyota Acceleration Problems

Written On May 27, 2010 By Bob Kraft

According to the Associated Press the government now says unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles may have been involved in the deaths of 89 people over the past decade. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that from 2000 to mid-May, it had received more than 6,200 complaints involving sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles. The reports involve 89 deaths [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices, Vehicle Law or News

Featured Link – Disability History Timeline

Written On May 26, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Here is an interesting list of important events from 1817 to 2001 “…highlighting people, events and legislation that effect disability rights.” It begins with:
1817
The American School for the Deaf is founded in Hartford, Connecticut. This is the first school for disabled children anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

Posted in Disability, Featured Link

More Good News on Drop-Side Cribs

Written On May 25, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Word is finally out on the dangers of drop-side cribs. The industry has started phasing out production of the cribs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has pledged to ban the sale of them by the end of the year, and now legislation is to be introduced in Congress to outlaw the manufacture, sale, and re-sale [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Texas Doctors Opting Out of Medicare at Alarming Rate

Written On May 24, 2010 By Bob Kraft

“Texas doctors are opting out of Medicare at alarming rates, frustrated by reimbursement cuts they say make participation in government-funded care of seniors unaffordable.” That’s the lead of an article in the Houston Chronicle a few days ago. This is a real problem not only for Texas senior citizens, but also for younger people on [...]

Posted in Medicare

Friday Fun

Written On May 21, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Television is a drug, and so is the Internet:

Television is a drug. from Beth Fulton on Vimeo.
Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan.

Posted in Friday Fun

FDA May Disclose More Details on Drug and Food Safety

Written On May 21, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Food and Drug Administration proposed this week to disclose more information about safety problems with the drugs and devices it rejects. This is the latest step in the agency’s efforts to combat criticism that it has become too secretive in its dealings with drug makers and food processors. There is good reason for some [...]

Posted in Government, Prescription Drug Claims

FDA Warns Tylenol Manufacturer About Quality Concerns

Written On May 20, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Johnson & Johnson company, manufacturer of Tylenol and many other similar medications, has come under pressure recently due to quality control problems at one of their plants. The drug maker voluntarily recalled certain lots of children’s liquid Tylenol and Motrin this month.
The plant under scrutiny is in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, and had been inspected by [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Texas Agencies Promise Reform After Alleged Abuse at Veterans Nursing Homes

Written On May 19, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Three state agencies have pledged to improve responses to abuse allegations at nursing homes, after legislators raised pointed questions about safety and management at two state-owned facilities for veterans. That is the story published recently in the Dallas Morning News. Here are excerpts:
One of the main changes is for the state agency in charge of [...]

Posted in Government, Medical Malpractice, Veterans Benefits

Translated Prescriptions Often Wrong – Half of Automated Spanish Versions Have Errors

Written On May 18, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This is a problem I never thought about before, but apparently it’s a quite serious one — erroneous translations of medication prescriptions for Spanish-speaking patients.
The problem, as reported in the Chicago Tribune, arises when pharmacies with no Spanish-speaking employees fill prescriptions for people who don’t speak English. The pharmacies must either go find someone who [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Prescription Drug Claims

New Social Security Disability Applications Can Take Years Before a Decision

Written On May 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The waiting time for Social Security disability applications is such a big problem that it is attracting the attention of the national press. Fortunately, Texas is not near the top of the list of states with excessive waiting times, but it still takes far too long to get an initial decision on an application. This [...]

Posted in Social Security Disability

Crib-Makers Approve Tougher Safety Tests

Written On May 17, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Major crib manufacturers on Wednesday agreed to perform tougher safety tests on cribs before they are sold, a victory for consumer advocates who have pushed for years for stronger tests in the wake of babies’ deaths. That’s the lead sentence of an article in the Chicago Tribune last week. Of course I’ve written many times [...]

Posted in Product Liability or Medical Devices

Friday Fun

Written On May 14, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Oh big deal. I’m sure I could have done all these stunts when I was his age. I was just never dumb enough to try…

Posted in Friday Fun

Featured Link – 4FreeCLE

Written On May 14, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Lawyers, are you looking for some free Continuing Legal Education credits? You’ll find a growing list of them at 4FreeCLE.

Posted in Featured Link

VA Limits Surgeries at Some Hospitals After Deaths

Written On May 13, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Because of an alarming report of deaths during or after surgeries at one VA hospital in Illinois, the Veterans Affairs Department is limiting the types of surgeries performed at some of its hospitals.
The VA has now given each hospital a “surgical complexity” level. Because of that, hospitals in at least five states will now perform [...]

Posted in Government, Medical Malpractice, Veterans Benefits

Claire’s Recalls Children’s Metal Charm Bracelets Due to High Levels of Cadmium

Written On May 12, 2010 By Bob Kraft

This information is from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: “Best Friends” Charm Bracelet Sets
Units: About 19,000
Importer: Claire’s Boutiques [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

CPSC Plans to Ban Drop-Side Cribs – Finally!

Written On May 11, 2010 By Bob Kraft

Maybe the Consumer Products Safety Commission read my most recent post on drop-side cribs? I said, “At this point I wouldn’t recommend buying any drop-side crib. It seems every one of them will eventually be recalled for safety reasons.”
Now the consumer agency has, according to the Chicago Tribune, has “committed to enacting a mandatory safety [...]

Posted in Consumer Information, Product Liability or Medical Devices

Featured Link – Top Baby Names of 2009

Written On May 11, 2010 By Bob Kraft

The Social Security Administration has released the latest list of most popular baby names, and there have been quite a few changes this time. Here is the press release:
Isabella Reigns as New Queen of Baby Names – Takes Top Spot on Social Security’s Most Popular Baby Names List
Jacob Still Rules the Boys; Elvis “All Shook [...]

Posted in Featured Link, Miscellaneous