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16
May

Anti-Depressant Use During Pregnancy Linked with Pre-Term Labor and Delayed Head Growth

May 16, 2012

Babies of mothers who took anti-depressants during pregnancy are at increased risk for preterm birth and have delayed head growth, according to new research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

The study looked at 70,696 pregnant women with maternal depression—some taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and some who went untreated. Each trimester of their pregnancies was monitored with fetal ultrasonography.

In addition, an earlier study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration showed that infants born to mothers who took SSRIs after the 20th week of pregnancy were six times more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) than infants born to mothers who did not take antidepressants during pregnancy.

Due to the similar way SSRIs interact with our brains, the entire class of drugs has been linked to instances of birth defects. Specific products include: Celexa® (citalopram), Lexapro® (escitalopram), Luvox® (fluvoxamine), Paxil® (paroxetine), Prozac® (fluoxetine), Symbyax® (olanzapine/fluoxetine), and Zoloft® (sertraline).

The Antidepressant Drug Injury Lawyers at Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough know that women face numerous decisions during their pregnancies and only want the best for their future children. Because the use of SSRIs during pregnancy has been linked to babies born with birth defects that can be severe and even life-threatening, we recommend that women who begin or continue taking an anti-depressant during pregnancy speak with their OBGYN and general practitioner about the risks of SSRI use.

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8
May

New Study Shows Hospital Translators Reduce Medical Errors

May 8, 2012

A new study shows that many medical mistakes may occur because of poor communication between patients and attending hospital staff. According to The Chicago-Tribune, medical mistakes that resulted in patient health complications were more than twice as likely to happen in hospitals that didn’t have translators for non-English speaking patients than those that did.

Researchers examined records from 57 families that visited two pediatric hospitals that participated in the study. All of the families spoke primarily Spanish, but only 20 families received the help of a professional translator. Ten other families had no assistance communicating with hospital staff, while the remainder used a family member or bilingual member of the hospital’s staff. Results showed that 12 percent of communication mistakes when a professional translator was used could have resulted in health risks, versus the 22 percent of risky communication errors that were made when a non-professional translated.

Training also played a part in how many mistakes were made during translation. Researchers found that interpreters with more than 100 hours of training were far less likely to make mistakes than those with less training.

Medical Malpractice Attorneys see all too often the devastating results of mistakes that poor communication between hospital staff led to. That is why the Personal Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough suggest always asking questions of your doctor and medical staff before receiving treatment or beginning a new regimen of medications.

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2
May

Obstacle Races Often Physically Challenging, Sometimes Dangerous

May 1, 2012

A new trend among athletes is participating in obstacle course races. The races pit the individual against a slew of gut wrenching tasks that must be completed. While the races may be a fun way to test your limits, they can also prove to be dangerous for even the most experienced athletes.

Take, for instance, the case of a 30-year-old Dallas, Texas, boot camp trainer who died while taking part in the “Original Mud Run” two weeks ago. According to WFAA-TV News, friends reported seeing him at the start of the race, but he never crossed the finish line. His body was found the next day in the Trinity River. An autopsy has been performed, but the Tarrant County medical examiner is awaiting the results of a toxicology report before naming a cause of death.

Participants said the scene at the river crossing on the day of the race was a state of panic. They claim that there were too many people in the water at the time and not enough lifeguards. Race organizers have argued that they had four lifeguards on duty at the crossing at all times and a roving team to assist with medical issues.

The Personal Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot and Wansbrough would suggest that anyone thinking about participating in this type of race think twice before entering. If you do decide to take part, compete with a partner to ensure safety.

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24
Apr

Texas Couple Awarded $13 Million In Internet Forum Slander Case

April 24, 2012

Many Americans believe that their First Amendment rights allow them to speak freely about anything. However, a Texas court ruled that saying things that are untrue about another person can cause them as much damage as a physical injury.

According to KVUE News, a Clarksville, Texas, couple has been awarded $13 million in damages after they claimed remarks made about them on an Internet chat forum defamed them.

A jury made the decision Friday in the 348th District Court in Fort Worth, Texas, after listening to days of testimony in the case. Court documents show that in 2008, a woman accused the couple of sexual assault at their Ranch. They were later acquitted of the charges but comments on the case made in an Internet forum continued for months to come. Hundreds of false claims and statements about the couple were posted.

Eventually, a lawsuit was filed and a judge ordered that the company hosting the forum where the claims were made to disclose the Internet addresses of 178 posters. One of those addresses later came back to a business owned by a family member of the woman who had filed the sexual assault charges.

The Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough would like to remind the public that making untrue statements about others is a form of bullying that can be considered a criminal offense if it causes someone else emotional harm.

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17
Apr

Collision Between Car And Ambulance Leaves One Dead And Four Injured

April 17, 2012

A two-vehicle collision involving a car and an ambulance on its way to the hospital with a patient has left one man dead and four others injured. According to the Times Record News, the accident happened yesterday afternoon at the intersection of 11th and Holiday Streets in Wichita Falls, Texas.

David Duke, sheriff of Wichita County, stated that the ambulance was transporting a 58-year-old male patient from Archer City who had been stung by bees and was going into anaphylactic shock to United Regional Hospital. The ambulance had both lights and sirens on as it passed through the intersection, but an oncoming vehicle failed to stop and T-boned the ambulance, knocking it over on its side.

The driver and two paramedics in the ambulance suffered non-life threatening injuries, as did the driver of the other vehicle. The patient in the ambulance died before he could reach help. Investigators are working to determine if he died as a result of his injuries sustained in the crash, the bee stings, or a combination of both.

The Dallas Auto Accident Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough would like to remind motorists that any emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens on has the right of way at all times. Be vigilant of these vehicles by checking your mirrors regularly and driving carefully at intersections. If you notice an emergency vehicle approaching, remember to pull over and let it pass.

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10
Apr

Two Construction Workers Seriously Injured In Job Site Accident

April 10, 2012

Two highway construction workers in Hurst, Texas, were seriously injured in a worksite accident Friday. According to My FOX-DFW News, the incident occurred at 9:30 a.m. at northbound Loop 820 and eastbound 121.

Reports indicate that the two workers were high above the ground working on a highway column when a bucket crane struck them. The two men were then trapped on top of the pillar until rescue crews could arrive.

Firefighter and paramedics worked for roughly two hours to get the men to the ground. The more seriously injured worker was lowered to the ground on a backboard by another bucket crane. He was then taken to John Peter Smith Hospital by helicopter for treatment. The other worker also was retrieved by the second bucket crane, but suffered less serious injuries and was transported to Harris Methodist Hospital by ambulance.

Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have been called to the scene to begin an investigation to determine what happened so that similar accidents don’t occur in the future. Results from the investigation could take several months to release.

The Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough have seen the Bureau of Labor Statistics findings that show construction workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country. That is why they are here to help workers who have been injured at no fault of their own at work.

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3
Apr

Drunk Driver Blamed For Fort Worth Wrong-Way Car Crash

April 3, 2012

Alcohol is partially to blame for a head-on collision that happened this past Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. According to WFAA News, the crash happened just before 2:00 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 30, near Las Vegas Trail.

Officers with the Dallas-Fort Worth Police Department who responded to the scene stated that a 26-year-old man from Euless, Texas, was driving east in the westbound lanes of the highway when he collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle.

The man who was driving the wrong way was able to walk away from the accident with only minor injuries, while the driver of the vehicle that was hit had to be cut free from the wreckage and pulled to safety, and was later taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

It was determined by officers at the scene that the driver responsible for the crash was under the influence of alcohol and he was taken into custody on charges of intoxication assault after being released from the hospital. He is expected in court in the next several days to face the charges.

The Dallas Auto Accident Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough would like to ask that we each do our individual part to keep the highways of Texas safe for all motorists by never getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming any amount of alcohol.

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27
Mar

Propeller Accident Victim Rejects $200,000 Settlement With Insurer

March 27, 2012

The 23-year-old Dallas, Texas, model and fashion blogger who was severely injured last winter when she walked into an airplane’s rotating propeller has filed a lawsuit against the aircraft’s insurer for damages resulting from her injuries. But according to NBCDFW News, she rejected a $200,000 settlement that was offered on the case earlier today.

The accident happened in December after the woman had finished an aerial tour of Christmas lights in the Dallas area. The pilot claims that he held his arm in front of the woman to keep her away from the propeller, but she walked into it when he glanced away for a moment. The woman lost a hand and an eye as the result of the accident.

The lawsuit came just weeks after the woman was released from a local hospital and began the recovery process. The $200,000 offer was the maximum payout that the insurance policy will allow for a passenger of the aircraft.

The woman argues that she was no longer a passenger in the plane as she was walking on the tarmac at the time of the accident. The lawsuit asks that the courts define the word “passenger” and the phrase “getting out of the plane.”

The Dallas Personal Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough say that it is important to discuss your rights with an attorney after you have been involved in an accident that has left you seriously injured.

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20
Mar

Dallas Airport Catering Employee Killed In Work-Related Accident

March 20, 2012

A worker at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) was killed last week in an on-the-job accident. Reports from The Dallas Morning News indicate that the incident occurred at roughly 6:45 a.m. Sunday near the south side loading dock of the company’s catering building, located at 2120 W. 33rd St.

David Magaña, a spokesman for DFW, stated that the man was in his 50’s and an employee of LSG Sky Chefs, an airline catering company. Magaña added that the man was working on the loading dock when a catering truck struck him. Rescue crews who were called to the scene attempted to revive the man, but were unsuccessful, and he was declared dead at the scene.

The airport’s Department of Public Safety has stated that they will continue to investigate the incident to determine fault and cause.

Numerous on-the-job accident lawsuits have recently been filed against Texas employers. Many of the Texas oil workers who suffered serious injuries as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Rig explosion in the Gulf two years ago are still battling to receive the compensation they need for their injuries.

This is why the Texas Personal Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot & Wansbrough feel it’s best to prevent accidents before they happen. The firm would like to remind all employees to follow all safety procedures while on the job. The decision could save your life or the life of a coworker.

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13
Mar

FDA Issues Recall For Male Enhancement Drug Marketed As Supplement

March 13, 2012

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently required Regeneca, Inc., to recall single capsule packets of the product RegenErect, which was being marketed as a dietary supplement, because it contained the drug Tadalafil. The press release for the recall issued by the FDA stated that Tadalafil is used in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction.

The FDA says that the drug, which is considered the active ingredient in the capsule, was not listed on the packaging. The other problem is that including the ingredient qualifies the product as a new drug, and it must therefore be approved by the agency before it can be sold.

The products could be considered dangerous for patients who are also taking nitrates and could possibly lower their blood pressure to dangerous levels. The FDA has stated that men suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease who take nitrates may be at a particularly high risk of complications.

The company has asked that consumers with any unused product contact them directly to receive an exchange or full refund. Customers can call (800) 690-6958 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. for instructions on obtaining a refund.

Any adverse reactions to the product should be reported to the FDA immediately.

The Texas Drug Injury Lawyers with Ferrer, Poirot, & Wansbrough are here to help you if you’ve been caused serious harm by a medication you have taken.

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