The study conducted by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University Pennsylvania compared the effectiveness of invasive and aggressive methods of treating pain with routine forms of brain injury care. Routine care is much less expensive than aggressive care, like surgeries, which have been very controversial.

However, the study by researchers found that the persons who were treated with aggressive means of therapy, responded better, and had much more positive outcomes than patients who were subjected to more conventional care. Further, aggressive treatment was also linked to lowered long-term care costs.

What's more, the researchers claim that aggressive care is beneficial not just in young patients, but also older adults. While the benefits of the therapy were maximized in people in their 20s, in whom such treatment can lead to $100,000 in savings, it's also a very effective means of treatment for adults in their 80s with brain injury.

Most brain injuries that Indiana brain injury lawyers come across are the result of severe head injuries in auto accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and slip and fall accidents or violent assaults.

The research conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology seems to indicate that drivers do not actually have to be engaged in a physical task in order to be at a higher risk of an accident. Traditionally, experts have held that that a person should be using a cell phone, snacking, applying makeup, switching music channels or performing other physical tasks that involve the use of the hands to increase the risk of an accident. The logic is that any physical activity that takes your eyes away from the road and your hands off the steering wheel can increase your risk of an accident.

However, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology study seems to indicate to Indiana car accident lawyers that this is not necessarily true. Physical activity is not a prerequisite for distracted driving of the type that leads to accidents.

The researchers recruited 108 volunteers in the 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49 and 60 to 69 age groups. These subjects were then given cognitive tasks to perform. The tasks were low, medium and high in intensity.

The researchers found that even when the subjects performed low-demand tasks, their attention was taken away from the road, increasing the risk of being involved in a collision. However, when the subject was given medium-demand and high-demand cognitive tasks to perform, it severely increased the risk of a collision.

These appliances include electric ranges and ovens which vied for first place in the list. These were followed by dishwashers, footwear, refrigerators, microwave ovens, heating and air-conditioning systems, indoor lighting systems, cookware, and laundry. Tying for the last place on the list were bedroom bedding, furniture and grills.

Overall, kitchen appliances accounted for approximately 37% of all consumer complaints filed with the agency's Saferproducts.gov website. Electric kitchen ranges and ovens accounted for approximately 9.7% of all complaints, with dishwashers making up 6.7% of complaints, microwaves making up 2.9% of complaints and nonmetal cookware making up approximately 1.7% of complaints. The surprising name on the list is footwear, but people seem to have had enough complains about shoes to push the category to the top of the list.

The report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission included all data that was filed with the saferproducts.gov website, since it was established. A total of 7,000 complaints have been lodged on the website, with an average of 600 complaints being filed per month. The Saferproducts.gov website allows consumers to file complaints about unsafe or defective products that have come to their attention, and access information about complaints filed by consumers. Manufacturers can read these reports, and respond to the complaints. If the manufacturer does not respond within 10 days, the complaint is posted on the website for the public to access.

The Indiana defective product lawyers at Theodoros and Rooth represent persons who have been injured by the use of defective products across Indiana.

A recent workshop by the Food and Drug Administration tried to spotlight the increasing problem of dirty surgical instruments being used in operating rooms, and the risks of surgical infections from these. The workshop yielded some very interesting results. The specialists analyzed some devices frequently linked to surgical infections, and found that in some cases, the devices remained unsterilized even though staff had followed all disinfection and sterilizing procedures.

The researchers ran video cameras inside suction tips which are typically used by surgeons to suction blood and fluids. They found that all the suction tips, without exception, contained debris of bone, tissue, and even rust. What's more, when the analysts put the suction tips through another sterilization procedure, they found that traces of debris remained.

They concluded that this was the result of poor design of the device, which allowed debris into areas of the tip that were hard for cleaning brushes to reach.

Apart from bad design, experts also blame over-stressed nurses and support staff for the unclean state of the devices. In many cases, staff has little time to prepare for another surgery, and this leaves them little time in which to get all the medical instruments and devices cleaned and ready for the next surgery.

In addition, a typical surgery at an American hospital now involves the use of more numbers of trays and devices. Many of these devices are highly complex to use and clean. Manufacturers in some cases have not bothered to test the devices adequately in order to make them easier to clean.

According to a new study that has just been published in the Journal of Gen. Internal Medicine, patients have the right to be informed about alternatives to the surgery they are scheduled for, but are very often, not given this important data. Patients, who do not have enough information about alternatives to the surgery, or the pros and cons of the surgery, are not in a position to make an informed decision.

The researchers surveyed a total of 685 patients who had undergone prostate cancer surgery, and 472 patients who had stents for coronary artery disease. Only 10% of the patients, who received stents, were given an alternative to the treatment. Among the patients who underwent prostate cancer surgery, approximately 64% discussed alternatives with their doctors.

Only 19% of the patients who got stents recalled receiving information about the cons and
risk factors of the procedure. Among prostate cancer surgery patients, approximately 50% reported discussing the cons of the procedure. Only 60% of the stent patients reported that they were asked about their preferences for treatment type, compared to 76% of prostate surgery patients.

The findings of this study cannot be taken as conclusive, because it relied too heavily on patient recollections of what they were told and what exactly happened before the surgery. Additionally, most of these procedures were conducted at the end of 2008, and the interviews were conducted only about a year later.

However, even when Indiana medical malpractice lawyers account for these factors, the fact remains that persons, who had prostate cancer surgery received more information and were more involved in the decision-making process than persons who received stents. Further, the study indicates that both groups of people needed more information and needed to be involved in the decision-making process.

While Indiana car accident lawyers find that almost all motorists agree about the dangers of driving at excessive speeds, most people do admit to having operated a vehicle at high speeds at some point. These attitudes are part of the reason why there has been no change in the number of people killed in accidents caused by speeding over the past few decades.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, approximately one-third of people killed in 2009 in auto accidents died in accidents caused by speeding drivers. There has been no progress in reducing the number of people being killed in these accidents, in spite of the fact that seat belt usage rates have increased over the past 2 decades. Automobiles are safer, more people are buckling up, and there are fewer drunk drivers than ever before.

In spite of this, there has been no impact on the number of people being killed in speeding-related accidents. The Governors Highway Safety Association is especially concerned at the fact that some states have begun to increase speed limits on many roadways and highways. The agency is calling on states to implement education and awareness campaigns about the high risks of accidents from speeding or reckless driving.

The Indiana car accident lawyers at Theodoros and Rooth represent victims of car and automobile accidents across the state of Indiana, helping them recover their rightful compensation.

These infections are caused by the Clostridium difficile bacteria and according to estimates, affect about 14,000 Americans annually. Approximately 50% of all C.diff infections involve people below the age of 65. However, people above the age of 65 constitute 90% of all fatalities from these infections.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Indiana medical malpractice lawyers are especially concerned, because the statistics show that although hospital-acquired infections have been declining in overall numbers, infections caused by the Clostridium difficile bacteria are actually increasing in number. Symptoms of C.diff infections include severe diarrhea, bleeding in the colon and inflammation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, earlier, most of these infections were contracted in hospitals. However, new data suggests that people who visit doctors’ offices or receive treatment at outpatient hospital settings may also be at a risk of C.diff infections. Medical care is a factor in about 94% of all these infections, and out of these, more than three quarters of the people were infected when they visited doctor's offices, clinics and nursing homes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising hospitals and healthcare providers to prescribe antibiotics judiciously, because antibiotics have been linked to a higher risk of contracting the infection. Infected patients must be isolated, and healthcare providers treating these patients must wear gloves and other protective gear. All surfaces must be treated with bleach.

According to the study, the results of which were published in the February Issue of the Archives of Surgery, the scores of 15% of the surgeons indicated an alcohol dependence problem. That included 14% of male surgeons, and a total of 26% of female surgeons who seemed to have issues with alcohol dependence. A total of 25,000 surgeons are included in the study. However, only 7,000 of those surgeons actually responded to the study.

Researchers say that this alcohol dependence problem has the potential to impact a person's ability to operate on a patient safely and without errors. However, the actual rate of errors involving surgeons under the influence of alcohol is quite low, at one in 10,000 procedures.
Some surgeons may be at a higher risk of alcohol abuse. For instance, surgeons who have made a serious medical error in the past 3 months, suffer from symptoms of burnout, or suffer from depression, are found to be much more likely to suffer from alcohol dependence issues. On the other end of the scale, surgeons with children, surgeons who work more hours, or work on call, or work for the Department of Veterans Affairs were found to be much less likely to suffer from alcohol dependence.

Researchers however say that people should not misinterpret these results because of the smaller representative sample. However, Indiana medical malpractice attorneys believe that it's important for surgeons who currently have abuse and addiction problems to get treatment for these. Hospitals too must intervene when they have surgeons on their staff with alcohol abuse problems.

The trucking industry had been lobbying ferociously to get the 11-hour rule to stay, and it seems like trucking companies will have their wish. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration did make a few nods to trucking safety. For instance, the agency did limit the maximum number of hours that a trucker can drive in a week to 70, from the proposed 82. Also, truckers now have a required mandatory rest period of 8 hours after an 11 hour workday, in contrast to the 7 hours that was earlier proposed.

One of the most controversial parts of the regulation is the one that dictates that at least 2 times a week, a driver may not begin driving between 1 AM and 5 AM. According to the trucking industry, many truckers do prefer to begin their day early at about 5 in the morning, so they can get a head start and avoid rush-hour traffic. The new rule would require that truckers wait till 5 am to begin driving, and could possibly mean that a large number of trucks end up on congested freeways and highways in the early hours of the morning, possibly increasing the risk of an accident.

However, the rule will allow truck drivers to get more rest by requiring that they avoid driving during this time twice a week.

The analysis which was conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that New Year's Day is the worst day of the year for drunk driving crashes. The Insurance Institute viewed statistics by the federal administration between 2005 and 2009. 50% of the total accidents during this time were linked to a motorist driving under the influence. The 2nd worst day of the year for drunk driving was the Fourth of July holiday. On this day, 42% of all fatal accidents involved an intoxicated motorist. At third place was March 18 that includes St. Patrick's Day. On this holiday, 40% of all accidents involved an intoxicated driver.

The death toll this New Year's Day is likely to be much higher, because New Year's Eve comes on a Saturday. In fact, many experts predict that this New Year's holiday will see more alcohol-related fatalities than in previous years because of the coinciding of the holiday with the weekend.

Indiana car accident lawyers see all kinds of reckless driving during the holiday. For instance, teen motorists admit that they're more likely to drink and drive during the New Year's holiday than any other holiday of the year. Additionally, January 1 also happens to be the deadliest day of the year for pedestrians. Many pedestrians are killed when they are struck by an intoxicated motorist. Others are hit when they are walking home drunk after a party.

These epidural injections contain anti-inflammatory compounds that can immediately alleviate pain. The injections have become a blessing for people who suffer from frequent joint pains, like hip pain, knee pain, and neck and back pain. Older people who may suffer from frequent aches and pains find that these injections can help eliminate pain quickly.

Additionally, doctors are more than ready to administer steroid injections because they are lucrative from a disbursement point of view. Epidural shots mean profitable disbursements from Medicare as well as private insurance companies. In fact, the number of doctors using steroid injections as pain relieving aids increased by approximately 159% between 2000 and 2010.
However, along with this increase in the use of steroid injections has come an increasing number of reports of side effects associated with these injections.

The Food and Drug Administration is concerned enough to begin an investigation into the safety of these injections. The agency through its Safe Use Initiative will soon begin a review of these epidural shots. The agency is likely to review the role of particulate steroids in triggering strokes.

The technology consists of a mixture of ozone and hydrogen peroxide that is pumped into the room. The gas sterilizes everything that it comes in contact with. By pumping this mixture into a room, it's possible to sterilize not just the floors and walls, but also the mattresses, tables, and other surfaces that may be contaminated. According to the researchers, the gas is able to permeate each and every corner of the room for complete sterilization in a manner that is not possible with mere wiping of surfaces.

The researchers have an explanation for why the technology works. The technology is based on the natural process of elimination of bacteria from the human body. When the human body attacks bacteria, it generates some amount of hydrogen peroxide that can eliminate bacteria. The researchers believe that the technology will be successful, because it is based on the natural process of elimination of bacteria in humans.

Proper disinfection of hospital rooms can help reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Unfortunately, sterilizing hospital rooms continues to be a major patient safety concern even in 2011. An infected patient or healthcare worker can contaminate a number of surfaces, and the contamination not always be eliminated using conventional methods. This technology seems to Indiana medical malpractice lawyers like a promising new addition to hospital infection prevention programs.

According to the Globe, 119 people died between 2005 and 2011 in ventilator alarm-related incidents. Most of the errors seem to be linked to improper setting up of the alarms, or occurred when nurses or caregivers failed to respond to the alarms, or failed to hear the alarms.

Indiana medical malpractice lawyers find that the most frequent reason for ventilator alarm-associated errors is that nurses are exposed to hundreds of these alarms every day, many of which sound an alarm for even the minutest changes in the patient’s measurements. After a period of time, nurses and caregivers become accustomed to these alarms, and this overexposure does, in some cases, lead to nurses ignoring the alarms altogether.

Additionally, many times, alarms are false, and this further contributes to a feeling of complacency where the alarms are concerned. This is why errors occur.

There are ways to deal with ventilator alarm-associated errors. For instance, there are some alarms that can be set up so that the alarm does not sound an alert for every tiny change. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration needs to set standards for alarm sounds, so that they cannot be ignored that easily.

In 2010, 754 people were killed in traffic accidents in Indiana. The previous year, the number was 793. That is an increase of 61 fatalities, and it’s disheartening for Indiana car accident lawyers to see that we aren’t saving more lives in accidents every year. Indiana accident fatality rates in 2001 are much higher than the national rate. Nationally, traffic accident numbers declined by approximately 2.9% in 2010, compared to the previous year.

The data is new, and it will take some time for Indiana transportation safety agencies to analyze the data to understand why there has been such an increase in 2010. Out of the 693 traffic accident deaths that occurred in 2009, 207 were in alcohol-related car accidents. That made it a total of 30% of all traffic accident deaths caused by intoxicated drivers. In 2010, 195 fatalities, or 26%, were caused by intoxicated drivers. The state seems to have made slight progress in reducing the numbers of persons killed in alcohol-related car crashes. Statistics on the types of accidents, including those caused by distracted driving, are not yet available.

Several other states including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio had massive increases in fatalities in 2010, compared to the previous year. Connecticut recorded the highest increase with a difference of more than 95 fatalities, or 42% from 2009.

Approximately 13,000 units of the Meijer Touch Point Oscillating Ceramic Heaters have been recalled because of a possible short-circuiting of the oscillating mechanism in the heater. This can cause a potential fire hazard.

Approximately 2.2 million units of the Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essentials Heaters have been recalled because they can malfunction, and this can cause overheating, smoking and even fires.

More than 107,000 units of the Lasko Portable Electric Heaters have been recalled because of overheating in the electrical connection, which can cause the heater to melt and pose a possible fire hazard to consumers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also recalled approximately 77,000 units of the Honeywell Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats. This recall is linked to another overheating hazard, which can cause the thermostats to melt and smoke and pose a burn hazard.

More than 90,000 units of the GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters also been recalled due to electrical fire hazards.

Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission also recalled tankless or instantaneous water heaters manufactured by Navien America Inc. of California. A defect in the heater can cause a potential risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. More than 13,000 units of the heater have been recalled.

From fire and burn hazards to carbon monoxide poisoning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has prevented a number of injury hazards through timely recalls this year. People who own these products can visit the CPSC website to learn what they need to do if their products are included in the recalls.