-
Contact Us
-
Recent Posts
Categories
Archives
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Spring is just around the corner, and when the weather warms, people break out the grill. While there is no denying how delicious food can be when it is grilled, we must also consider how dangerous grilling can be when it is not done properly. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2005 and 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,200 home fires involving grills, hibachis or barbecues per year, including an average of 3,400 structure fires and 4,800 outside fires. These 8,200 fires caused an annual average of 15 civilian deaths, 120 civilian injuries and $75 million in direct property damage. It is unlikely that most people consider death or serious injury when they fire up the grill. There are some safety tips you can follow, though, that will help prevent accidents: Only use grills, whether propane or charcoal, outdoors. Place the grill a…
Read More »
As the days slowly begin to warm, you may be considering trying out some new warm-weather activities. Depending on which activity you choose, you may be required to sign a waiver of liability. Liability wavers are designed to shield business proprietors from legal repercussions should you get hurt. Such waivers are rarely ironclad, though, especially when negligence is involved. Certain activities are considered so inherently dangerous, like sky diving and bungee jumping, that a waiver of liability will be upheld. If you are injured through the normal course of the activity, you cannot sue for damages because you assumed the risk. However, even with these extreme sports, negligence on the part of the business operator may be grounds for lawsuit. While the activity is dangerous, it is also the duty of the business operator to make it as safe as possible. Liability waivers are important for businesses that deal in…
Read More »
We wrote earlier this week about the differences in FDA recall classifications. As we mentioned, Class I recalls pose the highest risk to patients. In a recent Class I recall, St. Jude Medical announced at the end of 2011 that its Riata defibrillator leads could potentially injure or kill patients. An estimated 79,000 patients remain implanted with the recalled devices. The company sent out a voluntary letter to doctors informing them that the wires, which are used to connect the devices to the heart, had a higher failure rate than was previously known. According to St. Jude, the wires inside some leads can penetrate the insulation, compromising the device’s integrity. Patients may be shocked. As we mentioned in our previous post, patients using recalled drugs or devices need to consult with their physicians. St. Jude issued just such a recommendation. Anne Curtis, chairwoman of medicine at the University at Buffalo…
Read More »