iPhone Car-Safety App From NHTSA Gives Data on Ratings, Recalls

 

Federal safety regulators have unveiled an iPhone app that allows people to get safety ratings and recall information for vehicles they own or are thinking of buying.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration SaferCar app will let users search its 5-Star Safety Ratings for vehicles by make and model, locate car seat installation help, file a vehicle safety complaint, find recall information and subscribe to automatic notices about vehicle recalls. It also works on Apple's iPads and iPods.
"Safety is our highest priority, and we’re always working to find new and better ways for people to access SaferCar, one of the most popular programs on our website," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday. “This app takes advantage of the latest technology to ensure that consumers have the real-time information they need to buy safe, drive safe and stay safe.”
NHTSA will also give developers real-time access to the data that powers this app through a special interface. This will allow developers to integrate the data into new and existing apps, which the agency believes will give consumers better access to safety information.
“Timely, accurate, and accessible safety data is the lifeblood of our agency’s work,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland.
Automakers also keep close tabs on the safety ratings and like to use good test results in their advertising campaigns.
Mercedes-Benz, for example, announced Thursday that its C-Class sport sedan line and its M-Class sport utility sibling earned five-star ratings.

SUPPLY OUR SCHOOLS

Finding Alternative Ways to Help ‘Supply Our Schools’

Pennsylvania’s Atlee Hall is launching the firm’s first-ever Supply Our Schools program in his local area.

The program, which is aimed at supplying local schools with the proper essentials needed for successful learning, began last fall in efforts to give back to the schools in the School District of Lancaster.

Jackson, head of the Supply Our Schools program, got the idea to help when he started noticing certain items in the office that were no longer of use to the firm—but could be put to good use in schools.

“With the statewide school budget cuts in the past couple of years, I felt like it was important to help the schools in any way possible,” said Jackson. “Starting out, I knew that it was difficult to raise actual money, so our firm found alternative ways to help the local schools.”

The purpose of the program is to give schools the supplies students need, which can include anything from notebooks, pens and paper to any kind of electronics.

Since starting the program, the firm has donated a Smart Board and other supplies from the office that they no longer use to Wickersham Elementary School.

Jackson is working to expand the Supply Our Schools program beyond the firm’s office and obtain involvement of other law firms and local area businesses, as well as continue to donate supplies to local schools.

If you would like to donate to the Supply Our School program or would like more information, please contact Jaime Jackson at jdjackson@atleehall.com or visit www.atleehall.com
 

A Very Informative News Story on the Dangers of Car Dealers Selling Vehicles with Safety Defects

http://todaynews.today.com/_news/2013/03/04/17183251-rossen-reports-hidden-cameras-reveal-cars-for-sale-with-potentially-dangerous-safety-flaws?lite

Toyota issues recall for 209,000 FJ Cruisers due to seatbelt defect.

The Wall Street Journal (3/25, Welsh, 2.29M) reports that Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a recall for specified FJ Cruiser SUVs from the 2007-2013 model years. There is a possible defect in the seat belts which cracks to form in the rear doors, if the doors are closed forcefully over a long period. This can cause the seat belt retractor to detach, increasing the risk of injury. According to the NHTSA, the recall includes 209,000 vehicles.

GM recalls Cadillac, Buick LaCrosse models over transmission issue.

The Los Angeles Times (3/20, White, 692K) reports, "General Motors is recalling 26,582 model year 2013 Cadillac SRX crossovers and Buick LaCrosse sedans to fix a software problem that could allow the vehicles' transmissions to slip suddenly from manual to automatic mode." According to the Times, "Information posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website said that the software problem may cause the transmissions to inadvertently shift to sport mode, removing any transmission-related engine braking effect." The Times notes that "GM said in a statement that the issue was discovered on a 2014 engineering development vehicle" and that company hasn't received any complaints or reports of crashes.

        Also reporting on the recall are Cars (3/20, Geiger), Fox Business (3/20, Booton), WUSA-TV Washington (3/21, Foster), andWJBK-TV Detroit (3/21

NHTSA investigating reported Mercedes fuel leak.

The AP (3/20) reports, "Federal safety regulators are investigating reports of fuel leaks in about 250,000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars." The NHTSA "and Mercedes have received 533 complaints from owners about a strong odor of gasoline, mainly after refueling. The agency says fuel may be leaking from the upper part of the gas tank." No injuries or fires have been reported from the defect that affects vehicles from the 2003 to 2008 model years. The AP notes that "the agency is looking into whether the leaks were caused by a 2008 pollution control recall."

        The Los Angeles Times (3/19, White, 692K) notes that "the investigation was launched after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Mercedes-Benz received more than 500 complaints from owners about a strong odor of gasoline, mainly after refueling." The NHTSA reports on its website that "since opening the investigation ODI has received an additional 350 reports relevant to this investigation. Of those reports, 116 reports are on the E55 AMG model. The remaining 234 reports are on other E-class models (i.e., E320, E350, E500, E550 and E63) which are now included." The Times notes that "E-Class cars have a starting price of about $51,000."

        Also reporting on the investigation are WDIV-TV Detroit (3/20) and Reuters (3/19).

Great Dane Trailers, Daimler, Kenworth Trucks issue recalls.

Truckinginfo (3/19, Lockridge) reports, "Great Dane Trailers is recalling certain model year 2011 Dry Freight semi-trailers" because "welds at the bottom of the I-beam bogie frame may have been improperly applied." This may leader to hanger and axle disengagement and could cuase loss of control and a crash. Meanwhile, "Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 2,825 model year 2011-2013 MT45G and MT55G van chassis manufactured from Feb. 15, 2010, through April 30, 2012" because "these vehicles have gasoline fuel tanks that may experience cracks in the welds and tank material. Cracks in the fuel tanks could lead to a leakage of gasoline and vapors." Finally, "Paccar is recalling 17 model year 2014 Kenworth T270 and T370 trucks, manufactured from Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 2013" because "the left hand seat belt floor pan reinforcement bracket was not positioned correctly during assembly."

Subaru recalls vehicles due to moonroof detachment.

Cars (3/18, Schmitz) reports, "Subaru is recalling just 14 model-year 2012 Outback wagons and Legacy sedans due to a problem with the moonroof glass that could cause it to detach, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration." Cars notes that "an inadequate amount and position of adhesive between the glass and retainer of the moonroof could cause the glass to loosen and detach while driving, creating a potential road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash, according to NHTSA. Subaru has already notified affected owners, and dealers will inspect the condition of the glass adhesion and either apply additional adhesive or replace the moonroof glass for free, according to NHTSA."

New Jersey compounder issues recall over contaminated IV product.

The AP (3/19) reports that the Food and Drug Administration in an announcement on Monday, informed healthcare providers and hospital managers that a New Jersey compounder, Med Prep Consulting Inc., issued a voluntary recall for its products on Saturday, after determining there was mold in "five bags of magnesium sulfate" IV solutions that were "dispensed to a Connecticut hospital." The New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy "reached an agreement with the company on Friday to shut down all production and shipping" of its products, which include "dozens of antibiotics, pain relievers and drugs used in surgery and labor. The drugs were packaged in infusion bags, plastic syringes and glass vials."

        The Washington Post (3/19, Sun, 489K) notes on its "In the News" summary page that a spokesperson for the New Jersey Pharmacy Board confirmed Tinton Falls, New Jersey-based specialty pharmacy, which "has customers in all 50 states has agreed to stop operations until at least March 22."

        According to the Tennessean (3/18, Wilemon, 120K), the staff at the "Connecticut hospital reported the problem after observing particles floating in an intravenous medicine." In the annoucement, FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director Dr. Janet Woodcock said, "Giving a patient a contaminated injectable drug could result in a life-threatening infection." Although the agency has not received any "reports of patient infections," Dr. Woodcock said, "Due to the lack of sterility assurance at the facility and out of an abundance of caution, this recall is necessary to protect patients."

        NBC News (3/19, Aleccia) in its "Vitals" blog says that at least 13 "hospitals in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania apparently received the firm's 50-milliliter bags of magnesium sulfate 2 grams in dextrose 5 percent in water, a solution commonly used to replace vital electrolytes in hospitalized patients, according to agency statements. Product packed in plastic syringes was also distributed nationwide to doctors' offices and clinics, FDA officials said."

        The Newark (NJ) Star-Ledger (3/19, Friedman, 326K) adds that the "affected products were distributed through March 13 to both regional and nationwide locations. A statement posted to the Med Prep's website said no injuries or illnesses had been reported but added, 'administration of an intravenous product found to be contaminated with mold, could result in a fatal infection in a broad array of patients.'"

        Also covering the story are and the Philadelphia Inquirer (3/19, Sell, 306K) "PhillyPharma" blog, which provides a list of all of the products Med Prep Consulting produces, the Asbury Park (NJ) Press (3/19, Bowman), the FOX News (3/18) website and MedPage Today (3/19, Smith).

Chrysler tells 2,500 owners of V-6 Challengers to stop driving because of fire risk

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130317/RETAIL05/130319926/chrysler-tells-2500-owners-of-v-6-challengers-to-stop-driving&cciid=email-autonews-blast#axzz2NtcX4vYc

Hazards of Keyless-Car Ignitions, Please Make Sure your Car Actually Turns Off

 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/hazards-keyless-car-ignitions-dangerous/story?id=15874018

 

Cellphones Shouldn't Be Able to Work in Moving Cars, Experts Say

 

Thousands of people die in car crashes each year because drivers were too distracted by their cellphones to pay attention to the road. A pair of researchers from West Virginia University have a radical proposal for reducing that death toll – equip cars with devices that make it impossible to send a text message, check your favorite traffic app or dial home while the car is in motion.
“Simply stated, handheld portable devices must be rendered unoperable whenever the automobile is in motion or when the transmission shaft lever is in forward or reverse gear,” they wrote in a Viewpoint essay in Wednesday’s edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. “Automobile and cell phone equipment manufacturers have the engineering capabilities to implement these safeguards and they should be required to do so.”
Sound extreme? Consider the health costs of distracted driving:
* Experts at the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis in Boston have calculated that drivers using cellphones cause 333,000 injuries (including 12,000 that were serious) and 2,600 deaths per year.
* Researchers from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth have estimated that texting accounted for more than 16,000 crash-related deaths between 2001 and 2007.
* Investigators at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in Blacksburg have concluded that, compared with driving with a cellphone put away, texting while driving increases the risk of a “safety-critical event” by a factor of 23 and dialing while driving increases the risk by a factor of six.
Passing a law is not enough to solve this problem, according to the Viewpoint authors, Dr. Jeffrey Coben and Motao Zhu. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 10 states and the District of Columbia have banned the use of handheld cellphones while driving, and 39 states and the District of Columbia have made it illegal to text while driving. Yet in surveys, 40% of drivers still admit to talking on the phone when they’re behind the wheel and 13% own up to texting.
“As individuals continue to use their cell phones nearly continuously throughout the day, for both business and pleasure, they will continue to be tempted to use this technology – if available – while driving,” Coben and Zhu wrote. Hence the need to make this technology unavailable, they said.
That would still leave room for hands-free systems that let you dial by voice or translate text messages into computer speech, Coben and Zhu wrote – but only if research shows that such systems don’t lead to distracted driving either.
In the meantime, “The federal government should enact stringent new safety standards that require all handheld devices to be rendered inoperable when the motor vehicle is in motion,” the pair concluded. “Failure to act in this manner will result in the continued loss of thousands of lives each year to this preventable public safety hazard. In this era of smartphones and smart cars, it is time to be smarter about keeping them apart from one another.

Nissan recalls 2013 models over faulty airbag sensor.

USA Today (3/13, Meier, 1.71M) reports, "Nissan, which lately has been advertising its spate of models redesigned for 2013, has just recalled a bunch of them. The cause is a potentially faulty sensor that could cause the front passenger airbag to fail to deploy in a crash. The sensor is supposed to enable the bag if the seat is occupied, disable the bag if it is not." According to documents posted by the NHTSA, "the recall covers certain of Nissan's redesigned 2013 Altima mid-size sedan, the Pathfinder crossover SUV and the Sentra compact. ... Also covered are certain of the 2013 Nissan Leaf electric car and the Infiniti luxury unit's JX35 crossover SUV, a new product just introduced in 2012."

        The Los Angeles Times (3/13, Hirsch, 692K) also notes that "in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan said it hasn't determined the number of vehicles that will need to be recalled. But the Altima is Nissan's hottest seller. It was narrowly the fourth best selling passenger car last month, just 150 cars behind the Ford Fusion."

        Also reporting on the recall are Reuters (3/14), the AP (3/14), and Cars (3/13).

Toyota "sudden acceleration" problem examined.

Corporate Counsel (3/14, Hechler, 43K) reports on the dispute over sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles. According to Corporate Counsel, Toyota claims that the problems began in 2009, and the company "has moved aggressively to contain the damage. Shifting floor mats were identified as a primary cause of many of these episodes. Later, the company fingered accelerator pedals manufactured by a third party as prone to sticking. And Toyota says that many accidents are caused by drivers who inadvertently step on the gas instead of the brake." Corporate Counsel adds, "As the crisis mounted, the company seemed overmatched. Critics charged that Toyota had sacrificed quality - its traditional strong suit - in a rush to rack up sales," but as Toyota "battled two large multidistrict litigation class actions (MDLs) in California, it quietly settled some of the smaller lawsuits." The problem seemed to be over, but "some leading automotive experts aren't buying it."

DePuy: Hip implants: Second Jury Trial Starts in Chicago

In continuing coverage of the second trial against Johnson & Johnson's DePuy unit over its metal-on-metal hip implants, Bloomberg News (3/14, Harris, Voreacos) reports DePuy Orthopedic Products President Andrew Ekdahl "told a Chicago jury that the company recalled 93,000 hip implants in August 2010 because they weren't meeting 'clinical expectations.' Ekdahl's testimony came on the third day of a state court trial in which Carol Strum, 54, claims" her ASR XL hip implant had to be replaced after three years because it "was defective." In his opening statement Wednesday, DePuy attorney Richard Sarver maintained that the "device was not defective. 'Many factors contribute to the overall revision rate so a single root cause cannot be defined at this time,' Sarver said. 'We absolutely didn't say the product is a defective product.'" In contrast, Strum's attorney Denman Heard, during his opening statement, "told jurors" the ASR implant's "design flaws caused it to shed chromium and cobalt debris into surrounding tissue."

Nissan Recalling Altimas, Leafs, Pathfinders and Infinitis for Airbag Problems

SUMMARY:

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.

REMEDY:

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early April 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Nissan Recalling Sentras for Fuel Tank Problems

SUMMARY:

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Sentra vehicles manufactured from September 11, 2012, through October 4, 2012. Some fuel tank assemblies were not properly sealed during the manufacturing process. As a result, a small amount of gasoline may leak from the tank when it is full.

CONSEQUENCE:

A gasoline leak in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a vehicle fire.

REMEDY:

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 18, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

NOTES:

FDA: Azithromycin could lead to sudden death in patients with certain heart conditions.

An FDA warning on the potential dangers of azithromycin use in patients with certain heart problems received heavy coverage in print, online, and on all three of last night's national news broadcasts, where it received a total of nearly five minutes of coverage. The FDA indicated that the drug's label will be changed to reflect this risk. Many sources point out that the medication is prescribed for the treatment of several conditions.

        ABC World News (3/12, story 7, 1:50, Sawyer, 7.43M) reported, "And tonight we want to bring you a medical alert about a very popular antibiotic, Z-Pak. The FDA says the drug could lead to sudden death for some people who have certain heart conditions."

        On the CBS Evening News (3/12, story 6, 2:00, Pelley, 5.58M), CBS' Dr. Jon LaPook said, "The FDA reviewed a study from last year finding that patients treated with azithromycin, commonly sold as a Z-Pack were two and a half times more likely to die from cardiovascular causes than patients receiving another antibiotic, amoxicillin."

        On NBC Nightly News (3/12, story 9, 1:00, Williams, 7.86M), NBC Universal, Dr. Tonya Benenson said, "We heard last year it was related to cardiovascular death. Upon further review, now we know that it actually can lead to abnormal electrical activity which can then lead to a fatal heart rhythm. It hadn't been linked to azithromycin before."

        USA Today (3/13, Payne, 1.71M) reports, "Patients at risk include those with low blood levels of magnesium or potassium and heart rates that are slower than normal, the FDA said." Individuals "who take certain drugs for abnormal heart rhythms are at risk as well."

        The Wall Street Journal (3/13, Dooren, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) reports that according to the FDA, medications known as fluoroquinolones also carry a similar risk.

        The New York Times (3/13, B3, Tavernise, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reports, "Last May, the F.D.A. announced that it would review" a "study which found a small increase in the likelihood of death in people treated with a five-day course of azithromycin, compared with people treated with other antibiotics, such as amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin." The new "warning on Tuesday was a result of that review, said Stephanie Yao, a spokeswoman for the" agency. Yao "said the language on the labels for the drug had been strengthened to include, among other things, details from the 2012 study, and information from a later study by Pfizer."

        CBS News (3/13) reports on its website that the study the FDA reviewed was "paid for by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute."

        The Los Angeles Times (3/13, Healy, 692K) "Booster Shots" blog points out that "azithromycin, one of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics, is used to treat bacterial infections such as ear infections in children, urinary infections, bronchitis, pneumonia and chlamydia."

        The AP (3/13) reports, "The agency said...that it is adding new warnings to the" drug's label. The agency's "action could convince doctors to choose other options for people prone to heart problems, though the new label notes that some other antibiotics have similar effects on the heart."

        Bloomberg News (3/13, Armstrong) reports that in a statement, the FDA said, "Health-care professionals should consider the risk of fatal heart rhythms with azithromycin when considering treatment options for patients who are already at risk."

        Forbes (3/12, 928K) contributor Peter Lipson writes, "This warning should serve as a reminder to both patients and doctors that antibiotics are serious medicine. Azithromycin and other antibiotics play an important part in modern medicine but are often used inappropriately."

Ford recalls new vehicles over child lock issue.

The Detroit News (3/11, Shepardson, 119K) reports, "Ford Motor Co. is recalling about 6,500 new vehicles to replace a rear door lock that may have a faulty child safety lock. The Dearborn automaker told safety regulators in the United States and Canada that it is recalling some 2013 Ford Focus, C-Max and Escape vehicles because the left rear door child lock may have been installed incorrectly." Ford told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that "the child lock may not engage when the operator uses normal turning force to activate the child lock, and the operator may incorrectly believe the child lock is engaged."

DePuy Orthopaedics LPS Diaphyseal Sleeve: Class I Recall - Taper Connection May Not Accommodate Physiologic Loads

[Posted 02/22/2013]

AUDIENCE: Orthopedics, Surgery, Risk Manager

ISSUE: FDA notified healthcare professionals of a Class I recall of the LPS Diaphyseal Sleeve. The LPS Diaphyseal Sleeve to Diaphyseal Sleeve Base taper connection may not be sufficient to accommodate potential physiologic loads that may be transferred to the junction during normal gait activities by some patients. This may result in fracture of the sleeve at the taper joint which may also lead to loss of function or loss of limb, infection, compromised soft tissue or death.

The FDA has received a total of 10 reports (6 fractures and 4 reports of loosening that may or may not be attributed to the same device design issue) of incidents in which the device has malfunctioned.

The affected devices were manufactured from 2008 to July 20, 2012. See the Recall notice for a list of affected product codes and lot numbers.

BACKGROUND: The LPS Diaphyseal Sleeve is intended for use with the LPS System which is an end-stage revision knee product that allows surgeons to reconstruct severe soft tissue and bony defects. The diaphyseal sleeve is intended to enhance the fit and fill of the diaphyseal femoral canal with femoral and tibial replacements.

RECOMMENDATION: On Jan. 4, 2013, DePuy issued an Urgent Medical Device Recall informing hospitals and surgeons of the problem and to immediately stop distributing or using the recalled lots. If a medical facility has the affected product in stock, it should be returned to DePuy.

DePuy is not recommending revision or additional follow up in the absence of symptoms of patients with this implanted device. However, DePuy is encouraging surgeons to communicate with patients who received these implants and discuss the risks of the implant fracture and the method for detecting implant failure if the patient begins experiencing symptoms.


Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm¹
• Download form² or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

 

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm340740.htm

DePuy to pay $8.3M in first hip implant trial.

NBC Nightly News (3/8, story 10, 0:30, Williams, 7.86M) reported, "A jury in Los Angeles today awarded $8.3 million to a man who accused a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson of knowingly marketing a faulty hip implant that was later recalled. It was the first of an avalanche of lawsuits."

        On the front page of its Business Day section, the New York Times (3/9, B1, Meier, Subscription Publication, 1.68M) reported, "A jury in Los Angeles on Friday ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay more than $8.3 million in damages to a Montana man in the first of more than 10,000 lawsuits pending against the medical products maker in connection" with its Articular Surface Replacement artificial hip. However, the 12 jurists "declined to issue punitive damages, saying the company's DePuy orthopedics unit, which made and marketed the all-metal device, did not act with fraud or malice."

        The Los Angeles Times (3/9, Terhune, 692K) added that during "the five-week trial, Loren Kransky, a 65-year-old former prison guard in Montana, testified that he suffered metal poisoning and other health problems from the company's ASR XL hip implant he received in 2007." The Los Angeles jury had "six days of deliberations in this closely watched case," before ordering the J&J unit "to pay $338,136 for Kransky's medical expenses and $8 million for his pain and suffering" on Friday.

        The Wall Street Journal (3/9, B4, Loftus, Subscription Publication, 2.29M) noted that in a statement issued after Friday's ruling, DePuy spokesperson Lorie Gawreluk said the company maintains that the ASR XL hip implants were not designed defectively and it is planing to appeal the decision, based on the results of post-trial motions.

        However, Bloomberg News (3/9, Possley, Voreacos, Pettersson), quoted juror David Vega as saying after the verdict, "I wanted punitive damages," citing "evidence that DePuy took too long to correct problems found with the device." Bloomberg News also pointed out that the J&J unit "recalled 93,000 of the implants in August 2010, when it said 12 percent failed within five years." Meanwhile, analysts are projecting that overall, the 10,750 lawsuits over the device "could cost J&J billions of dollars to resolve."

        The National Law Journal (3/11, Bronstad) reports, "The jury found that the ASR XL hip implant was defectively designed and awarded $8,338,000 in compensatory damages. But the jury rejected Kransky's bid for punitive damages, which had been estimated at as much as $179 million, and his claim that Warsaw, Ind.-based DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, N.J., failed to adequately warn of the risks associated with its product. 'This is the first of many days of reckoning for DePuy and Johnson & Johnson,' said Brian Panish of Panish, Shea & Boyle in Los Angeles, who represents Kransky. 'We will not rest until they are held fully accountable for the thousands of patients they harmed.'"

        The AP, Reuters (3/9, Beasley) and Dow Jones Newswires (3/9, Loftus) also covered the verdict

J&J Must Pay $8.3 Million Over Defective Hip, Jury Says

                   

 

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)’s DePuy unit defectively designed a metal-on-metal hip implant, a California jury decided in the first of 10,750 lawsuits over the device to go to trial.
The Los Angeles jury awarded a total of $8.3 million in damages to Loren “Bill” Kransky, a retired Montana prison guard who alleged DePuy’s design of its ASR hip caused his injuries. Jurors said J&J was negligent even though the company properly warned of the risks, and didn’t owe punitive damages.
J&J, the world’s largest seller of health-care products, recalled 93,000 of the implants in August 2010, when it said 12 percent failed within five years. Last year, 44 percent failed in Australia within seven years. Analysts say the lawsuits could cost J&J billions of dollars to resolve.
“This is not an imperfect hip, this is a public health disaster,” Kransky’s attorney Michael Kelly said in closing arguments on Feb. 28. “Somebody needs to tell them, ‘Don’t make Bill Kransky come to court. Build these things right. Don’t let this happen again.’”
Patients such as Kransky complain in lawsuits of dislocations, pain, and follow-up surgeries known as revisions. Kransky’s lawyers argued that DePuy failed to test the device adequately before selling it in the U.S. in 2005, buried surgeon complaints of mounting failures, and studied a redesign of the ASR before scrapping that effort in 2008.

Medical Expenses

Kransky’s lawyer Brian Panish had asked for compensatory damages of $5.3 million and punitive damages of as much as $179 million. The jury’s verdict, which came on the sixth day of deliberations, included $338,136 in damages for medical expenses and $8 million for physical pain and emotional suffering.
“This is the first day of reckoning for DePuy,” Panish said after the verdict. “We’ve learned a lot from this trial. We’ll get punitive damages in the next trial.”
One juror, David Vega, said after the verdict that “I wanted punitive damages” based on the evidence that DePuy found the problem and took so long to resolve it.

The case is Kransky v. DePuy, BC456086, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County (Los Angeles).

Subaru issues recall of self-starting vehicles.

USA Today (3/7, Woodyard, 1.71M) reports, "Subaru is recalling 47,419 certain 2010 to 2013 model-year vehicles because if an key fob with a remote starter built into it can go wacky if it is dropped. The drop can cause a malfunction that could result in the fob remotely turning on the car's engine, and turning it off again, when owners aren't even aware of it, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration." USA Today notes that "the recall covers 2010 to 2013 Outbacks and Legacys, 2012 and 2013 Imprezas and 2013 XV Crosstreks."

        The Los Angeles Times (3/7, White, 692K) also notes that "the engine may continue to start and stop until either the fob battery is depleted, or until the car runs out of gas. If such a malfunction occurred in a vehicle parked in an enclosed space, the risk of carbon monoxide build-up, which may cause asphyxiation, would increase."

Chineese Motorcycle Helmets Recalled

Zhejiang Jixiang Motorcycle Fittings Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang) is recalling certain motorcycle half helmets, model JX-B210, sizes Large and XL, manufactured in 2008. During testing, the affected helmets failed to conform to the impact attenuation, penetration, labeling, and retention requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, "Motorcycle Helmets."

Consequence: By wearing a noncompliant helmet, the user may not be adequately protected in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: Zhejiang will recall the helmets. The recalled helmets are no longer produced by the manufacturer. Zhejiang does not have the end user information. As such, owner notifications will not be sent. Owners may contact their US agent, Precision Global Resource, LLC at 1-909-638-9040. A remedy plan has not been provided.

Ford recalls 196,500 minivans over corrosion problem.

The New York Times (3/6, Jensen, 1.68M) reports, "Ford is recalling about 196,500 of its 2004-7 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans to fix a corrosion problem that prevents the fold-down third-row seats from locking safely into place, Kelli Felker, a spokeswoman for the automaker, said today." The Times notes that "Ford is recalling only vehicles sold or registered in 20 salt-belt states and the District of Columbia." However, "that's called a regional recall, and some consumer advocates, like the Center for Auto Safety, have long complained that such recalls serve to save automakers money and might - in a mobile society - fail to repair some vehicles." The Times reports that the NHTSA began investigating the issue in December of 2011.

Ford Escape Stck Throttle Problems

Federal Investigators End Probe Into Stuck Throttles in Ford Escapes After ABC15 Investigation

After seven months, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) closed its investigation into a safety defect and recall involving stuck throttles in 2001-2004 model year Ford Escapes and 2001-2008 Mazda Tributes.
Despite three reported deaths related to the defect and pressure from auto safety advocates, the agency is not pursuing any civil fines against the automakers for failing to recall the SUVs years earlier.
"It's a total miscarriage of justice,” said Clarence Ditlow, auto safety advocate and Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety in Washington.
The federal investigation began after the ABC15 Investigators exposed a defect involving damaged speed control cables, stuck throttle complaints and a series of accidents.
In January 2012, 17-year-old Saige Bloom died after her 2002 Ford Escape accelerated out of control in Payson, Ariz.
That launched our five-month investigation exposing a pattern of accidents, complaints, lawsuits and two other deaths stemming from the same defect in the same model year SUVs around the country.
Less than two weeks after NHTSA opened its investigation, Ford and Mazda announced a major recall of more than 700,000 2001-2004 model year Ford Escapes and 2001-2008 Mazda Tributes equipped with 3.0L V6 engines and speed control for potential stuck throttles.
But some safety experts said the recall from Ford came seven years too late.
"Ford knew about the defect in 2004 and changed the vehicle in 2005,” Ditlow said.
Asked why the agency isn’t pursuing penalties against Ford, NHTSA said in a statement:
Safety remains NHTSA's primary focus and we urge consumers impacted by this and any other recall to have their vehicles promptly serviced. We have closed our defect investigation. NHTSA will continue to monitor any future issues involving a stuck throttle or unintended acceleration in these vehicles to ensure that there are no additional safety risks that warrant further action.
"Saige Bloom died in January 2012 because there wasn't a recall of the 2001 to 2004 Escapes,” Ditlow said. “There's simply no way around that fact."
In a statement, Ford told the ABC15 Investigators:
We took swift action as soon as we completed our full technical investigation into the cause of the issue and determined that a recall was in the best interest of our customers.
NHTSA said it has no reason to challenge the recall.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY:
While we were aware of the tragic death of Saige Bloom, we did not have the opportunity to investigate the vehicle involved in that accident until shortly before we announced the voluntary safety recall. And our internal investigation was not solely based on that one incident. We had a volume of data to review and analyze in order to ensure our investigation was thorough and properly implemented.

Car Crashes Kill 40,000 in U.S. Every Year

Published February 03, 2005

WebMD

Imagine a plane full of people crashing, killing everyone on board, every single day. That’s how many people die on America’s roads daily, says the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

“Motor vehicle crashes in the United States result in more than 40,000 deaths per year,” says the Institute in the journal Injury Prevention. “That is, on each of the 6,209 consecutive days included in this study, an equivalent of a plane load or more of people died on the roads.”

But not all days are alike. Weekends are worse than weekdays, summer and fall months have more deadly crashes than winter or spring months, and holidays top the list for crash deaths.

The Institute studied U.S. Department of Transportation data from 1986-2002. Information covered crashes on public roads resulting in a death within 30 days, including pedestrian deaths.

On average, more than 100 people per day died in car crashes in the U.S. The death toll for a single day can range from 45 to 252 people, say the researchers.

July Fourth had the highest number of crash deaths (161). It had an average of 12 more deaths than any other day of the year. This day also had a high number of deaths involving alcohol.

The second worst day was July 3, with 149 crash deaths. Six of the 10 worst days clustered around holidays — July 2-4, Dec. 23, Jan. 1, and Sept. 2 (on or near Labor Day).

The other four days all occurred in August, which had more vehicle travel than any other month. In contrast, the 10 days of the year which averaged the fewest crash deaths were in January and February. These months had the lightest road traffic.

Evenings and weekends were the deadliest times on the roads. The worst hours were from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with each averaging 6.6 deaths per hour. By far, Saturday had the most deaths (158). Next came Friday (133 deaths). Sunday was a close third (132 deaths). Tuesday had the least fatalities (95).

Alcohol may partly explain why nights, weekends, and holidays had more crash fatalities. For instance, almost half of New Year’s Day deaths involved alcohol impairment.

Pedestrians account for nearly 13 percent of all crash deaths, say the researchers. New Year’s Day and Halloween (Oct. 31) had the highest average pedestrian death rates — each averaging 24 pedestrian deaths. All the other days with at least 20 pedestrian deaths happened from October through December. The day of the year with the fewest pedestrian deaths was March 11 (11 deaths per day).

About 7 percent of crash deaths were among motorcyclists. June, July, and August accounted for 41 percent of motorcyclist deaths.

Many people think they won’t be affected, believing their driving skills are superior. But that can’t be true, since “almost everyone is a driver,” says the Institute’s Charles Farmer, and colleagues.

They hope to jolt people out of their false sense of security.

By Miranda Hitti, reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

SOURCES: Farmer, C. Injury Prevention, vol 11; pp 18-23. BMJ Specialist Journals.

Robotic surgery lawsuits reveal details about deaths.

Bloomberg News (3/6, Langreth) reports that robotic surgery systems created by California-based Intuitive Surgical Inc. "are linked to at least 70 deaths in informal incident reports sent to U.S. regulators since 2009, according to a review by Bloomberg News." Recently filed lawsuits are "adding new details about dangerous complications involving the da Vinci robots made by Intuitive." Over half of the procedures performed in 2012 by the robots, each one costing $1.5 million, were gynecological treatments, but it can also perform "prostate and gall bladder removals, as well as heart surgery." But as surgeries using the robot have grown more popular, "injury reports involving the procedures jumped to at least 115 in 2012 from 24 in 2009, while deaths rose to 30 from 11."

Chrysler Recalling Dodge Avengers for Fire Risk

Summary:   Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger vehicles manufactured from October 30, 2012, through November 2, 2012. These vehicles may have a gas tank that has a broken control valve in the fuel tank assembly.

Consequence:   A broken control valve in the fuel tank assembly may lead to an engine stall or fuel leakage. An engine stall while driving may contribute to a vehicle crash. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.

Remedy:   Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tank assembly and replace any affected control valves, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during March 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.

Jury hears closing arguments in Depuy hip implant case.

The Los Angeles Times (2/28, Terhune, 692K) reports, "Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson played 'Russian roulette' with patient safety by ignoring high failure rates and surgeons' complaints about its once-popular artificial hip, a Los Angeles jury was told during closing arguments at a high-stakes medical trial for the company." The Times continues, "Jurors heard arguments from both sides Thursday in a case that pits the world's biggest seller of medical products against Loren Kransky, a 65-year-old former prison guard in Montana who claims he suffered metal poisoning and other health problems from the company's ASR XL hip implant he received in 2007. The company 'knew this hip was defective long before Mr. Kransky got it,' Brian Panish, one of Kransky's attorneys, told the 12 jurors and one alternate. J&J has denied Kransky's claims that it designed a defective hip implant and failed to warn patients about the risks. Attorneys for J&J have said that Kransky's ailing health was due to his diabetes, kidney cancer and other long-standing medical problems."

        Bloomberg News (3/1, Possley, Voreacos) reports, "J&J, the world's largest seller of health-care products, failed patients before recalling 93,000 ASR hips in August 2010, Panish said. At the time, J&J's DePuy unit said 12 percent failed within in five years, requiring follow-up revision surgeries. The Australian rate hit 44 percent in 2012, he said. 'That design was defective from the first day they put it out,' Panish argued to the state court jury at a trial that began Jan. 25. 'It was beyond what any hip had ever done to anyone in the history of the world. It's not even close.'"