Tag: news
Washington Supreme Court ruled that medical device makers have a duty to warn hospitals as well as doctors and physicians of product risks.
The Washington Supreme Court in the U.S recently gave a 6 – 1 judgement on whether or not medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to warn hospitals as well as doctors and operators of the risks their products come with.
In this recent Supreme Court decision, it was held that manufacturers must also warn hospitals as the purchaser of the medical devices (and thus the consumer), as well as doctors. The lawsuit was made against Intuitive Surgical Inc. after a man died from a fatal operation involving the manufacturer’s robotic medical device. The Da Vinci system is used for minimally invasive operations whereby a doctor operates on the patient through a robotic arm controlled by an electric remote.
read more
Health and safety regulators are warning consumers of fake cancer treatments being sold online
Regulators have found 65 fake health products circulating the web that are falsely advertised as cancer treatments.
“Miraculously kills cancer cell in tumours,” “more effective than chemotherapy” – These kinds of potentially fraudulent and unsubstantiated claims are being used to advertise alternative cancer remedies, and the concern is that the vulnerable are being preyed upon.
read more
The U.S. NHTSA clears Tesla of responsibility behind fatal crash; but does not protect the company from future lawsuits
Last year, former Navy SEAL and Tesla Model S enthusiast, Joshua Brown, died whilst driving a Tesla vehicle on auto-pilot mode.
Perhaps assuming that the “self-driving” vehicle would live up to its name, Brown did not swerve or apply his brakes during the 7 seconds leading up to his collision into the back of a truck. Due to the speed the vehicle was travelling at, Brown tragically died on impact.
read more
A woman fighting a rare but deadly cancer linked to breast implants speaks out to warn others
Ms Stacey Boone had gone to the doctors multiple times and was turned away, dismissing her concerns as having just contracted the flu. It took an egg-sized lump on her collarbone and a 42 pound weight loss before the doctors finally gave her the correct diagnosis.
Ms Boone had stage 4 cancer.
The type of cancer she was diagnosed with is extremely rare. The breast implant is associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is a cancer in the lymphatic system which is essentially the immune system.
read more
Tesla to roll out 2nd Generation of Self-Driving technology – “Should we be worried?”
Tesla will be slowly rolling out a second generation of self-driving technology for cars. Ever since their auto-pilot system was involved in an accident resulting in a fatality last year, this updated technology is set to be cautiously and slowly marketed.
But with the problematic history for self-drive cars – something Tesla have been at the heart of – the big question is this: should we be worried about these new self-driving cars, and will they ever be truly safe?
read more
Skin creams containing paraffin have reportedly caused 37 deaths in England in the last decade
Medical manufacturers have sent out warnings to eczema skin cream users, as some users have reported that they have caused fires, and consequently 37 deaths.
The majority of skin creams contain paraffin which can soak into bedding and clothes, and therefore make them more flammable. In November 2007, the NHS webpage alerted healthcare staff involved in prescribing, dispensing or administration of paraffin-based skin products of a potential fire hazard. The page states that paraffin-based products – e.g. emulsifying ointment – are easily ignited with a naked flame or a cigarette, so users should take caution when using them.
read more
Takata to plead guilty for the airbag defect scandal
Major auto part maker Takata is set to plead guilty and pay a $1 billion settlement in a plea agreement over an airbag fault scandal.
It has been called one of the “largest and most complex safety recall” cases in history, with defects linked to 16 deaths worldwide, and a further 100 injuries reported.
The airbag’s defect can lead to a sudden explosion, shooting sharp metal fragments into the cars cabin. A safety device that’s intended to save lives has ended up costing them instead.
read more
Coca-Cola has ‘misled’ consumers for years, according to the CSPI
A lawsuit has been brought against Coca-Cola for allegedly misleading consumers in relation to the health risks that consuming sugary drinks can pose.
According to the suit, filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), it’s alleged that Coca-Cola, together with the industry group the American Beverage Association (ABA), have misled customers regarding the health risks of drinking sugary drinks.
read more
Class 4 MHRA alert: Mirena inserters incorrectly mounted
Bayer plc, a global pharmaceutical company, has received two complaints with regards to its Mirena inserters. The complaints detail that the insertion tube was mounted inversely to the handle, and this has led to an inversion of the insertion depth scale, which may lead to incorrect insertion depth; consequently reducing the efficacy and/or causing injuries.
An investigation has shown that both complaints involve one batch of inserters and a Mirena batch number TU01BPE. The affected batch was first distributed on 29th August 2016, with an expiry in June 2019.
read more
Land Rovers and Jaguars rolling away while parked reportedly causing injuries
According to automotive regulators, some Land Rover SUVs and Jaguar XF sedans have been reported to cause injuries after the vehicles rolled away while parked.
Seven reports were received of rollaway vehicles for the following models: year 2012-2014 Land Rover Evoque sport-utility vehicles; and 2013 Jaguar XF sedan vehicles.
It’s thought that approximately 39,000 vehicles could be affected by the problem though, which is a lot of potential accidents waiting to happen…
read more