The tragic death of a 12 year-old Chicago-area boy in a baseball-related accident has brought attention to a lack of data tracking regarding sports injuries in children. Although researchers have extensively catalogued injuries in athletes at the high school level and up, no one is collecting information on injuries to…
NASCAR races around the country have gone a remarkably long time without a serious crash. Some races have recently gone hundreds of laps without even a yellow caution flag, which requires drivers to exercise caution or slow down due to a hazardous condition on the track. Some observers have credited…
A new product, described as “inhalable” or “breathable” caffeine, has drawn the attention of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to questions about its safety and suitability for the marketplace. This is due partly to recent incidents involving injuries and deaths allegedly caused by high-caffeine energy drinks, as…
As medical devices grow increasingly sophisticated, disputes have begun to arise between doctors and medical device manufacturers over who bears the responsibility when a patient is injured by a device. In some instances, manufacturers try to hold doctors liable for using a device improperly, and in others doctors try to…
A Washington, DC-area dentist recently warned about the importance of protecting children’s teeth and jaws from injury as they participate in fall and winter sports, noting the potential for serious damage and complications from fairly common sports injuries. The dentist, of course, recommends obtaining a custom-made mouth guard with the…
Football, as the saying goes, is a contact sport. It may therefore come as a surprise to learn that a number of professional football players have sued the National Football League and helmet manufacturer Riddell over concussions suffered during games. In all, 125 former players have filed suit in at…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a series of initiatives in late September that it hopes will further ensure the safety of the food supply. The proposed measures, known as the Retail Food Safety Action Plan, would apply to food service establishments such as stores, restaurants, and schools.…
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved new voluntary limits on cadmium levels in children’s jewelry. A move to regulate cadmium began in 2010 after a recall of bracelets and pendants at Wal-Mart stores. The new standards represent a national consensus among manufacturers and importers of children’s jewelry as to…
Recalls have been issued in the Washington, DC area for recreational vehicles from four different manufacturers: Spartan Chassis, Navistar, Dutchmen Manufacturing, and Winnebago Industries. The reasons for the recalls include problems with the exhaust system, defective headlight fuses, faulty ventilation, and possible fuel or propane leaks. Any of these conditions…
The US Food and Drug Administration is proposing that surgical mesh products be subject to tougher regulations. The mesh products, which are placed in the vagina to treat pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, can cause serious injuries. In an update to its 2008 advisory warning that transvaginal mesh…