DePuy ASR Hip Implant Re-Call

DePuy Orthopaedics ASR hip resurfacing system and ASR Acetabular system were named in a global re-call in August 2010. The re-call was issued after data from the National Joint Registry of England and Wales showed that one out of every eight patients who had received the devices had to undergo revision surgery within five years. A total of 93,000 were sold worldwide, including over 3,500 in Ireland.

The new recipe has less 4-MEI and has been introduced in California. The recipe will be rolled out throughout the US. Coca-Cola says that no health risks justify the recipe change. A Spokeswoman for Coca-Cola has said that the company wanted to ensure their products would not be subject to the requirement of scientifically unfounded warnings. 4-MEI has been linked to cancer in mice and rats according to one studies finding. However, according to the industry group the American Beverage Association no evidence exists that the chemical poses human risks.

The FDA in the US has long maintained that artificial food dyes are safe but as far back as the 1970’s some paediatricians and advocates have called for the elimination of dyes and preservatives especially in diets of children with behavioural problems.

The study compared with results from two time frames, 1996-2000 and 2004-2008. The study also assessed RTA injuries in children under 15 years old.

There was a 36% drop in the number of children killed or injured, representing a reduction from 5,928 to 3,659.

In terms of car passenger death, there was also a reduction from 69 to 44. However, the authors found that an unacceptably large number of children continued to travel in the front seat of vehicles and the rate of children who were restrained was less than 70%.

In total, there were 1,232 child pedestrian injuries from 2004-2008. This represented 34% of the overall injury toll to children. Of these, 2%/ or 32 were fatal and 129 were considered to be serious injuries.

Mr Quinn suffered his injuries when a horse he was riding jumped a metal gate. The horse then fell on top of him and badly smashed his right arm. Mr Quinn claimed that his employer was responsible because she directed him to ride the horse by an obstacle which had previously spooked it in circumstances where she had to gain control over the horse. His employer, Ms Bradbury claimed that she depended on Mr Quinn as an experienced horseman to use his discretion appropriately. She further claimed that his failure to exercise proper control such as dismounting the horse meant that he was the author of his own misfortune or was guilty of a high degree of contributory negligence.

When deciding the issue of liability the Judge found that Mr Quinn was a careful horseman but one who was less experienced than his employer. The Judge held that his employer had a duty to take reasonable care for his safety pursuant to the Safety, Health and Welfare Work Act 2005. In deciding liability the judge also held that Mr Quinn contributed to the accident and reduced his award by 30%.

A Jury in the USA concluded that Pfizers Wyeth unit was liable for causing Margaret Fraser’s cancer and that Prempro is an unreasonably dangerous product. The Jury also found that Wyeth should pay punitive damages over its handling of the drug.

The jury found that W yeth’s official handling of the drug was reckless and they misrepresented the risks and benefits of its drug to patients and doctors.

More than six million women took Prempro and related menopause drugs to treat symptoms such as hot flushes and mood swings before a 2002 study highlighted the drugs link to cancer.

Wyeth’s sales of the medicines, which are still on the market, topped $2 Billion before the release of the Women’s Health Initiative, study sponsored by the National Institute of Health.

Until 1995 many menopausal women combined Premarin, Wyeth’s estrogen-based drug with progestin-laden Provera, made by Pfizer’s Upjohn Unit to relieve their symptoms. Wyeth combined the two hormones in its Prempro pill.

Premarin and Provera were previously licenced for sale in Ireland by the Irish Medicines Board.

Most E-coli bacteria are harmless, but some types are extremely harmful and can cause severe stomach pains and bloody diarrhoea and can also progress to cause kidney failure and death in some cases. Young children and infants are particularly at risk from E-coli infection and special attention must be paid to protect their health.

Children and childcare workers in childcare settings are unwittingly spreading E-coli infection and the FSAI is urging childcare workers and crèche owners to ensure that they have robust hygiene practices in place to reduce the incidents of this potential life threatening bug.

There were 9 outbreaks of E-coli infection in children attending crèches. E-coli has been associated with private water supplies and certain types of food. In its mildest form the symptoms often clear up within approximately 8 days but children may continue to shed the bacteria for much longer. Babies and young children are most susceptible to kidney failure.

The FSA’s top tips for preventing the spread of E-coli infection are:

• Wash hands properly and often.
• Use a safe water supply.
• Prepare food hygienically and store it properly.
• Wash hands after contact with animals.
• Stay away from the childcare facility for 48hours if you have diarrhoea or vomiting.

If you or your child has contracted E-coli from attending a crèche you may be entitled to obtain compensation. Liam Moloney, Solicitor specialises in the area of Health Care Law and can be contacted today for a free consultation at 045-898000 or simply log onto our website www.moloneysolicitors.ie for further information.