Recalled Hip Implants

After complaints from several hundred patients and a warning letter from the FDA, Johnson & Johnson is recalling its popular metal-on-metal hip replacement mechanism known as the ASR XL Acetabular System. This product is made by DePuy Orthopaedics which is a division of Johnson & Johnson.

This product is being recalled due to its high failure rate which results in additional hip replacement surgeries to many patients. One such type of failure is that the implant does not properly adhere to the bone and becomes unattached. Another such failure is that over time metal particles slough off and the debris causes inflammation, tissue damage and extreme pain to an individual. There is also some research that indicates that the cobalt and chromium materials used in these implants can be toxic and may lead to certain cancers, including leukemia.

Of course, this recall comes in the wake of several other recalls by Johnson & Johnson – most notably Tylenol Children's liquid. The president of DePuy Orthopaedics said, “We are committed to assisting patients and health care providers by providing information through multiple channels and paying for the costs of doctor visits, tests and procedures associated with the recall.”

If you or anyone you know has been injured by a product such as the DePuy hip implant or any other defective product contact our Valdosta Attorneys for a free consultation about your potential case.

15 PASSENGER VANS

I was reading the recent news report of the Gainesville, GA church group that was on a missions trip in Kentucky last month when the church van was involved in a collision resulting in severe injuries to the passengers. These types of crashes involving large passenger vans of church groups and students are more common than you would think.

It is very common to see 15 passenger vans such as the Ford F-350 and others traveling on the nation’s highways and interstates carrying our most precious cargo – children. These vehicles most commonly transport baseball (or other sports) teams, church groups, day care students, boy/girl scouts and other similar groups. In fact, these types of vans are used by many private schools as the primary mode of transporting students on field trips or to extra-curricular events as they are much less expensive than actual school busses.

And little is thought about it by the parents or the adults in charge.

These vehicles do little to ensure the safety of its occupants. In fact they are among the most dangerous vehicles on the road. Specifically, the roll-over rate is extremely high in these types of vehicles. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) calculates that the vans overturn more than half the time they are involved in single-vehicle crashes. Additionally, more than half of the occupants of these vehicles are killed or receive incapacitating injuries.

The majority of the single-vehicle crashes involve tire safety issues. Additionally these types of vans are more likely to roll over with more passengers inside. This is largely due to the way the seats are positioned in the vehicle causing a high center of gravity.

The technology exists for other designs and features that would make these vehicles safer for passengers. Yet, the makers of these vehicles did not think these safety features were necessary – especially in the earlier models of these vehicles.

Please think long and hard before you allow your child to ride in one of these 15 passenger vans. Your child would be much safer if you considered alternative options.

More information on the dangers of these vehicles can be found at: http://www.safercar.gov/, http://www.nhtsa.gov/, http://www.ntsb.gov/, http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/fifteen_passenger.html and many other sites.

If you or a loved one was seriously hurt as a result of a vehicular roll-over incident or any other major motor vehicle collision, please contact us so that we can discuss your rights. Consultations are free.

Nap Nanny Product Recall

Yesterday, the Consumer Products Safety Commission announced that Baby Matters, LLC is voluntarily recalling approximately 30,000 baby recliners following the death of a 4-month-old girl from Michigan. Baby Matters, LLC is aware of 22 total incidents involving this product. The Michigan girl died when she fell over the edge of her recliner and was pinned between the recliner and her crib bumper causing her to suffocate.

The product already has warning labels, stickers and other types of warnings indicating that the Nap Nanny should never be placed inside a crib, play yard or other confined area, or on a table, countertop or other elevated surface.

Proper Use: Always use the Nap Nanny on the floor away from any other products

INCORRECT USE: Photo of re-enactment of doll falling over side of Nap Nanny® placed in crib.

Baby Matters is offering an $80 discount coupon towards the purchase of a new Nap Nanny, with free shipping for owners of a first generation Nap Nanny (purchased before August 15, 2009 and identified by the absence of Velcro straps inside the cover).

Consumers with a second generation Nap Nanny model are being encouraged to stop using the product until they are able to visit the firm's website to obtain new product instructions and warnings as well as view an instructional video to help consumers ensure the harness is properly fastened.

If you or anyone you know has been injured by a product such as this or any other defective product, contact us for a free consultation about your potential case.

HR 5503 - the Spill Act

Today the US House of Representatives will vote on HR 5503, the Spill Act. This bill is the first step towards holding BP fully accountable for their actions. Please call your Representative RIGHT NOW and ask them to vote for HR 5503! Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. Look-up your Rep at www.house.gov.

-Learn more about the Spill Act at http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/12646.htm

Product Recall - Shrek Promotional Glasses

Just weeks after Wal-Mart and other stores recalled jewelry sold at their stores due to the presence of cadmium, McDonalds is also recalling its promotional Shrek themed glasses for the same reason. These glasses are 16 ounces and come in four different designs (Shrek, Fiona, Puss n’ Boots, and Donkey).

Please see the May 20, 2010 post for details on the dangers of ingesting cadmium. You can also visit www.cdc.gov or www.epa.gov.

The CSPC spokesperson, Scott Wolfson, has stated that the amount of cadmium found in these glasses is “slightly above the protective level currently being developed by the agency.” He also said the glasses contain “far less cadmium than the children's metal jewelry that CPSC has previously recalled."

So far, no injuries have been reported as a result of the toxic chemical found in the paint on the glasses. However, out of an abundance of precaution, McDonalds has recommended that their customers stop using the glasses and is offering $3 refunds on those glasses. (They were originally sold for $2 each.)

If you or anyone you know has been injured by a product such as this or any other defective product, contact us for a free consultation about your potential case.

Paxil & Birth Defects

Paxil is a popular antidepressant which has been on the market since 1992 and is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is used to treat people with depression, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, and PMDD as well as other similar conditions.

As with almost any anti-depressant, there is a long list of possible side effects associated with taking Paxil. One such potential side effect is birth defects if the drug is taken by a woman during pregnancy. Studies have shown that if Paxil is taken during the first trimester a baby is 1 ½ - 2 times more likely to be born with a heart defect (usually holes in the interior walls of the heart). Other studies have shown that if Paxil is taken any time after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, a baby may be born with persistent pulmonary hypertension (abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs and thus insufficient oxygen to their bodies). This condition can lead to multiple organ failure, brain damage, developmental delays, neurological deficits and ultimately death.

For more information on how Paxil can affect a baby if taken during pregnancy, please visit this website or the FDA’s website. Also, please view the GlaxoSmithKline’s September 2005 letter to healthcare professionals on this matter.

If you, your baby or anyone you know has been injured by this or any other pharmaceutical product, contact us for a free consultation about your potential case.

Baby Stroller Safety Risk

I was reading the June 2010 issue of the Consumer Reports magazine and came across something that parents with small children might like to know. Consumer Reports has rated three models of baby strollers as “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” – those strollers are:

- Valco Baby Tri-Mode
- Tike Tech City X3 all-terrain stroller
- Tike Tech X3 Port jogging stroller

These strollers received this rating due to the hazard of an unrestrained child slipping beneath the grab bar and getting stuck resulting in potential injury or death. (This is referred to as “submarining.”) Although the Consumer Products Safety Commission does not specify the particular strollers involved, they do report that there have been at least 10 infant deaths associated with submarining between 1995 and 2008.

Safety regulations require that if the space beneath the bar is large enough for a child’s body to pass through, it must also be large enough for the child’s head to pass through. Of course, a child should always be properly strapped into his or her stroller.

If your child or the child of anyone you know has been injured by a faulty product such as these or any other defective products, contact us for a free consultation about your potential case.