A NY jury found in favor of a mother who was injured during childbirth. 34 year-old Tina Holstein, a home health nurse, entered Community General Hospital in Syracuse NY to give birth to her third child. After the child was delivered Holstein began vomiting. She was administered an injection of an intramuscular drug in order to stop the vomiting. However, the injection was administered properly and caused permanent injury to her sciatic nerve.
The jury found for Tina Holstein and awarded her damages of $1.69 million for the 2007 birth injury. While the medical malpractice lawsuit against the nurse who gave the injection was dropped, the jury found the hospital vicariously liable for the nurse's wrongful actions.
The August Issue of Pediatrics reports that more than 70,000 children are injured by medical devices each year. Almost 25% of the injuries are associated with ophthalmic devices such as contact lenses. However, many of the injuries come from invasive medical devices such as catheters, tubes, and shunts. One expert noted that the majority of medical device injuries are linked to tubed placed in the stomach such as shunts or IV tubes.
"We see a few of those a week," said Dr. Valerie T. Thompson, an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and division director of pediatric emergency medicine and medical director of the pediatric emergency department at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Researchers from the FDA's Centers for Devices and Radiological Health examined data gathered from pediatric emergency room visits. The study is the first of its kind to focus on medical devices and pediatric injuries. The study may result in device warnings for certain medical devices used in pediatric patients.
GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil, has reportedly agreed to settle some 800 Paxil birth defect lawsuits for the sum of $1 billion. The Paxil settlements will pay individual families approximately $1.2 million.
The remaining 100 Paxil lawsuits include three that are set for trial later this year in Philadelphia.
Paxil is a controversial anti-depressant drug that has been linked to birth defects in pregnant mothers who were taking the drug. Such birth defects include cardiac problems and pulmonary hypertension.
An FDA advisory committee has recommended against the use of Avastin in breast cancer treatment. The decision was based upon new drug trials that demonstrated no demonstrable benefit in the treatment of breast cancer.
The recommendation is a set back for those who believed Avastin would prevent the disease's progression. The FDA should make a final decision by Sept. 17. It is not required to follow the recommendations of advisory panels, but generally does.
