A recent report published by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) claims a commonly used surgical device may spread cancer cells throughout the body. According to the GAO, laparoscopic power morcellators can seed new tumors in patients with undiagnosed uterine cancer. Power morcellators, which cut up large chunks of soft tissue into smaller pieces, have been used to conduct minimally invasive gynecological and abdominal surgeries since 1991. More than 50,000 women undergo surgery with these [...]

The overprescribing of opioid medications has become a public health crisis responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, widespread addiction and millions of destroyed lives. Centers for Disease Control statistics show 20,101 people overdosed on prescription opioids in 2015. This is almost twice the number of people who overdosed on heroin that same year. Millions of people are addicted to these medications. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2.1 million Americans are suffering [...]

An analysis conducted by New Jersey State Police found distracted driving is the leading cause of fatal car crashes in our state. In 2015, there were 190 fatal distracted driving crashes in New Jersey. It is important to understand that distracted driving does not always entail texting behind the wheel. This is a common reason for distracted driving crashes, but it is not the only one. Distracted driving also entails eating, applying makeup, shaving or [...]

If you read last week’s blog, you should have a basic understanding of how addiction changes the brain. With people who are addicted to opioids, the pleasure center of the brain is significantly altered. This means addicts develop a craving for their drugs of choice, and will do nearly anything to chase after the feeling the drugs produce. It would be a misnomer to call new versions of prescription opioids “abuse-deterrent” or safe. There is [...]

Bayer and Johnson & Johnson are facing thousands of lawsuits over deaths and injuries attributed to Xarelto, a blood-thinning medication. Plaintiffs involved in the cases claim the drug is responsible for causing uncontrollable bleeding in the intestines and brain. Additional claims suggest both companies did not warn consumers about the risks associated with taking the drug. Xarelto is for patients with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that raises the risk of stroke. For several decades, [...]

An ongoing investigation of NJ Transit may have uncovered more safety violations. According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the inspection found instances of work-hour violations. The alleged violations involve engineers and various on-board crew. Specifically, inspectors discovered altered duty logs showing NJ Transit employees were violating hours-of-service rules. These violations and other factors may raise the risk of railroad accidents. Inspectors with the FRA found 246 instances of improper documentation on duty logs, including [...]

New research published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) discovered people are still developing health conditions caused by asbestos exposure. The CDC’s report shows a 4.8 percent increase in mesothelioma deaths between the years of 1999 and 2015. In addition, 682 of those deaths were among people ages 25 to 44. This report shows policies created decades ago to prevent asbestos exposure have not provided adequate protection. People affected by exposure or their families [...]

Tip-over accidents are an overlooked safety threat found in many homes across the country. These accidents occur when small children attempt to climb or pull down on furniture such as television sets, bookcases and dressers. Every year in the US, an estimated 33,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for injuries caused by tip-over accidents. Two-thirds of fatal tip-over accidents involve toddlers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has suggestions for parents that may help [...]

A new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report shows 33,000 people died from overdosing on opioids and opiates in 2015. This includes both prescription drugs and heroin. How did we get to this point? Previous blogs have discussed how drugs like OxyContin are related to an increase in heroin usage. We have also discussed why opioid lawsuits may help hold drug companies accountable, so keep this in mind as you are reading. The overprescribing of [...]

A federal investigation has discovered sleep apnea may have played a role in the Hoboken train accident. According to findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the train’s engineer was diagnosed with sleep apnea after the fatal September crash. People with sleep apnea experience interruptions in breathing while sleeping. This causes someone with the condition to wake up several times per night. As a result, people with sleep apnea can experience excessive daytime drowsiness [...]