Will a New Jersey Doctor Have His License Suspended Again?

May 18th, 2012

In 2001, Richard Kaul lost his license to practice medicine in England. Later, he began practicing medicine in New Jersey and was subsequently given a six month suspension and probation for allegedly failing to disclose his past criminal conviction to the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners.

Currently, Dr. Kaul is facing another possible suspension of his medical license. The New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners is alleging that Dr. Kaul completed complex spinal surgeries without the required training or education.

The case was brought before the Board of Medical Examiners last week and a criminal case is also reported to be before a grand jury.

If you have any concerns about your doctor’s qualifications to perform a specific procedure or surgery then it is important to ask questions of your doctor and to seek a second opinion.

Vaginal Ring or Oral Contraceptive – Which is Safer?

May 16th, 2012

Birth control is a big decision. Not only does it protect you against unwanted pregnancies but it also impacts your quality of life, and a new study suggests that it may also impact your health.

The study, published in the May 10, 2012 edition of the British Medical Journal found that vaginal rings, such as the Nuva Ring, are associated with a greater risk of potentially deadly blood clots when compared to non-hormonal forms of birth control and oral contraceptives. Researchers urge women to discuss the safety of vaginal rings with their health care providers, to be aware of the risks, and to consider oral contraceptives that present a lower risk of complication.

Will you talk to your healthcare provider about the potential dangers of your Nuva Ring?

Abbott Settles Depakote Lawsuits with Government for more than $1.5 Billion

May 14th, 2012

Last week Abbott Laboratories announced that it had reached a settlement with the federal government and most of the state governments for the alleged illegal marketing of the anti-seizure medication Depakote.

According to the Justice Department, Abbott marketed Depakote for use among patients with schizophrenia and agitated dementia even though the drug only had FDA approval to treat seizures, mania associated with biopolar disorder and migraines. While doctors may prescribe FDA approved drugs to treat many conditions, it is not currently legal for pharmaceutical companies to advertise their drugs for purposes other than those for which the FDA has provided approval.

The federal and many state governments alleged that Abbott had a special sales force whose job it was to market Depakote to nursing homes for use in controlling agitated patients with dementia. Additionally, it was alleged that Abbott marketed the drug to treat schizophrenic patients from 2001- 2006.

The settlement amount is reported to be approximately $1.6 billion including $800 million to resolve civil cases brought by federal and state governments, $700 million in criminal penalties and $100 million to settle consumer protection violations. The settlement does not affect individual, or class action, lawsuits brought by other plaintiffs.

Should a New FDA Warning be Issued for Popular Blood Pressure Medications?

May 10th, 2012

Some doctors think so.

The issue surrounds the blood pressure medications known as ACE inhibitors that are taken by many Americans. While ACE inhibitors may help control blood pressure, some patients are experiencing a significant side effect that they didn’t know could happen. Specifically, some patients are experiencing extreme swelling in the neck and face – a condition known as angioedema. Angioedema cannot be immediately reversed with medication. Patients who suffer extreme swelling in the throat or tongue may need emergency care so that they can keep breathing.

Mercy Philadelphia Hospital and Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital report seeing more than one case of this side effect each week. The Director of Emergency Medicine is seeking to raise attention about this side effect and reportedly would support an FDA black box warning about this potentially life threatening side effect.

Do you take an ACE inhibitor to control your blood pressure? Were you warned about this potential side effect? Will you know what to do if it occurs?

Is it Safe to Take Prescription Medication During Pregnancy?

May 8th, 2012

A recent review in the journal Obstetrician & Gynaecologist found that approximately half of all
congenital malformations in newborns are caused by prescription drugs. Researchers found that about 2% of babies are born with congenital malformations and that about 1% of babies are born with congenital malformations caused by prescription drugs.

Currently pregnant women are not included in drug safety trials. However, evidence about whether a prescription medication is safe during pregnancy can be gathered in other ways. Specifically, researchers can look at the effects on fetal development among women who are already taking the prescribed drugs.

Deciding whether to take a prescription drug during pregnancy is an important decision. You and your
doctor must weigh the benefits of the drug for you against the possible (and potentially unknown) risk to your child and the risk to you if you do not take the drug. Accordingly, it is important to have an in depth conversation with your doctor about your options.

Are Antidepressants Safe?

May 4th, 2012

You take antidepressants because you think that your life will be better with the medication than without it. However, a new study finds that antidepressants may do more harm than good for some patients. The study
published in a recent issue of Frontiers in Psychology found that while antidepressants might regulate mood changes caused by serotonin, they also interfere with other functions of serotonin.

Serotonin, for example, not only regulates moods but also affects digestion, blood clotting, development and reproduction. Some of the risks associated with antidepressants include:

Death in elderly patients.
Developmental problems in infants.
Sexual problems.
Digestive problems.
Bleeding problems.
Stroke.

Antidepressants are widely prescribed in the United States, but patients are reminded that popularity does not guarantee safety. If you have questions about whether the risks of antidepressants outweigh the potential benefits, please talk to your doctor so that you can make the choice that is right for you.

New Risk Identified for Soldiers Returning From Overseas

May 2nd, 2012

For many soldiers returning home to the United States is both welcome and difficult. It can be hard to readjust to civilian life in the States, and a new study suggests that it might also be dangerous. USAA, an
insurance company that works with those in the armed services and their families, recently concluded an important study.

According to the USAA study, veterans returning home are 13% more likely to cause an accident in their first six months home than they were in the six months prior to their deployments. The rates were significantly
higher for members of the Army and Marines and lower for other armed forces such as the Navy and Air Force. The study found that some veterans applied the defensive driving tactics they used in combat to the roads back home and that the most common cause of accidents upon their return where objects in the road.

As we welcome our relatives and friends home from Iran, Afghanistan and other locations abroad it is important that we help them avoid New Jersey car accidents so that they can enjoy the life in the country that they have worked so hard to protect.

FDA Issues New Tekturna Warning for Patients with Diabetes

April 30th, 2012

On April 20, 2012 the FDA issued a new warning for aliskiren containing drugs such as Tekturna. According to the new safety alert, Tekturna, Tekturna HCT, Amturnide, Tekamlo, and Valturna can be dangerous for patients with diabetes when they are combined with other types of drugs including ACEIs and ARBs.

The FDA warns that using Tekturna or other medications listed in the safety alert with an ACEI or ARB can result in renal impairment, hypotension or hyperkalemia in patients with diabetes.

If you take Tekturna and you have diabetes then it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and about your medical options.

Feds Seize Allegedly Tainted Ultrasound Gel in New Jersey

April 26th, 2012

Earlier this month, the FDA ordered federal marshals to seize Other-Sonic Generic Ultrasound Transmission Gel located at Pharmaceutical Innovations Inc. in Newark, N.J. The seizure came after the federal government found that the ultrasound gel contained bacteria that posed a serious risk of infection.

Samples collected in February 2012 allegedly contained two strands of bacteria, Pseudomonas eruginosa and Klebsiella oxytoca. The FDA has received 16 reports of people who allegedly became ill when the ultrasound gel was used during heart valve replacement procedures.

Our South Jersey injury lawyers wish anyone injured by this allegedly tainted ultrasound gel a fast and speedy recovery.

Hackensack University Medical Center Kidney Transplants Shut Down for Now

April 24th, 2012

Hackensack University Medical Center reportedly has a kidney transplant death rate that is three times the national average. Additionally, the federal government found 28 significant deficiencies in the hospital’s kidney transplant program. Accordingly, the hospital has temporarily halted its program and has transferred approximately 300 kidney transfer patients to other area hospitals.

Hospital officials report that recent data shows an improvement in outcomes for kidney transplant patients and that most of the deficiencies have already been corrected at the facility. It is expected that Hackensack University Medical Center’s kidney transplant programs will reopen in about four months. The government plans to monitor compliance for at least 18 months.

If you, or a loved one, are waiting for kidney transplant at Hackensack then please contact your doctor for more information.

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