Miscellaneous

• Chemicals Used in Baby Products May be Linked to Reproductive Problems

  Scott Kappes | February 06, 2008 2:55 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  A new study suggests that a chemical commonly found in baby shampoo and baby powder may be tied to reproductive problems. The chemicals, known as phthalates, also often found in perfumes and plastic have been shown to cause reproductive problems in animals. Environmental researchers suspect that phthalates may cause similar problems in humans. Environmental researcher Rick Stahlhut, M.D, M.P.H....

• Luby's Hit With Lawsuit Over Parking Lot Injury

  Scott Kappes | January 18, 2008 12:13 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  On January 15 Kathy Addison of Port Arthur, TX filed a personal injury lawsuit claiming that a defect in the Luby's parking lot caused her to trip and consequently injure her elbow. The lawsuit alleges that Luby's Inc. was negligent in failing to maintain a safe premises. The suit claims that the parking lot posed an unreasonable risk and the obvious defect should have been repaired to create a...

• Worst Nursing Homes In America

  Scott Kappes | November 30, 2007 11:33 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  This week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released their first-ever list of the worst performing nursing homes in the nation. These poor-performing facilities have twice as many deficiencies as most nursing homes. As of last month there were over 125 facilities designated as "Special Focus Facilities" (SFF) of the 16,000 nursing homes in the U.S. The 54 with the most appalling...

• Increased Cancer Risk Linked to CT Scans

  Scott Kappes | November 29, 2007 5:02 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine today reports a link between computed tomography (CT) scans and an increased risk of cancer. The article claims that the increasingly popular scans are bombarding patients with radiation each and every time one of these scans is preformed. There is a particular concern for children who are receiving CT scans to diagnose medical...

• IHOP Faces Lawsuit in Tripping Accident

  Scott Kappes | November 16, 2007 10:02 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  A personal injury lawsuit has been filed against the International House of Pancakes after David Vardaman tripped over rolled up mats shortly after entering the restaurant causing him to be injured. The lawsuit alleges that the mats were carelessly placed on the premises. David and his wife are suing the pancake giant seeking to recover past and future medical expenses in addition to mental...

• Frozen Pizzas Recalled For E. Coli Risk

  Scott Kappes | November 02, 2007 1:15 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Yesterday General Mills Operations located in Minnesota issued a voluntary recall of 5 million frozen pizzas due to the risk that they could be contaminated with E. coli. The recall affects about 414,000 cases of pizza products. Many of these products may already be in consumers' freezers and pose a serious health risk. There have been 21 confirmed cases of E. coli spread across the entire...

• Children's Play Yards Recalled After Infant's Death

  Scott Kappes | September 27, 2007 12:13 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Kolcraft has issued a voluntary recall of some 425,000 infant play yards in response to a strangulation death of an infant. The restraint strap for the changing table forms a loop and hangs down into the play yard area can strangle a child. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has receive one report of a 10-month old that was strangled by the strap. Twelve different models are covered under...

• Texas Man Files Suit Over Stolen Bone Used in Implant

  Scott Kappes | September 26, 2007 5:22 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  I read a very odd story in the Chronicle today about a Texas man who is suing a medical technology company and several tissue processes sing businesses. In 2005 James Livinston underwent surgery to implant a bone in his neck to relieve persistant back pain. It was later discovered that the bone was stolen from a corpse. Livingston has now filed a lawsuit in New York and is monetary compensation...

• Recalled Toys are Still Out There

  Scott Kappes | September 24, 2007 2:28 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  It appears as though the non-stop barrage of toy recalls has subsided and toy makers are now looking to rebuild the trusting relationship they once had with consumers. The big retail stores have stripped the recalled toys from their shelves and parents have gotten them out of the house. The only problem is where some of the toys have ended up, resale stores. Second-hand resale stores have always...

• Baby Bliss Water Recalled Due to Life Threatening Infection

  Scott Kappes | September 21, 2007 1:23 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Yesterday the FDA issued a warning to consumers and caregivers citing the presence of Cryptosporidium infection in the apple flavor of Baby Bliss Water. This water contains an herbal supplement used to ease the gas and stomach discomfort associated with colic, hiccups, and teething in infants. The FDA is currently investigating an incident involving a 6-week-old infant that consumed the tainted...