Blog

Does your favorite surgeon have a drinking problem?

Mar 9, 2012

Probably not, however, a recent study indicated that around 15 percent of surgeons responding had met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependency per the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Since the majority (around 18,000) of the surgeons included in the survey (25,000) did not respond, it is impossible to verify whether this condition is worse or better than these results indicate. These admissions did not offer any links to increased surgical error in Pennsylvania...

Pedestrian safety in Ohio

Mar 9, 2012

While scanning the headlines in Ohio newspapers, residents will occasionally read of an auto-pedestrian accident. The Ohio resident may feel sad and extend their sympathy, but will they ever do anything to change the statistics? One eight-year-old boy has decided to do something to better protect pedestrians. When the child went to visit his grandma, he saw that some of the street corners around town had bright orange flags for pedestrians to carry as the crossed...

Wrongful death lawsuit against borough and law enforcement allowed

Mar 9, 2012

The family of a Pennsylvania man who died while in police custody recently learned it would be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the borough, former police chief and captain it believes are responsible for his death. The chance to pursue this lawsuit was made known in a memorandum issued by a U.S. District Judge. The parents of the man, who died in November 2004, initially filed a wrongful death lawsuit in November...

Pennsylvania’s texting law now in effect

Mar 9, 2012

By now, most Pittsburgh residents are aware of Pennsylvania's new law that makes it illegal to text while driving. The law is slated to take affect this week and pertains not only to handheld devices, but tablets and laptops that may be in the front seat as well. As is the case anytime new regulations begin to be enforced, there are a lot of questions. Perhaps the most common question regarding the new law is...

Hershey contractor cited by OSHA for willful violations

Mar 9, 2012

Hershey is undoubtedly one of Pennsylvania’s most well known businesses. The company’s chocolate candy bars are loved by people of all ages. It is unlikely that many people consuming the company’s confections are thinking about all of the people who are involved in the creation of each sweet treat or the prevention of worker injuries. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, however, is. Last month, OSHA indicated it was proposing that...

Pennsylvania Bans Texting While Driving

Mar 8, 2012

A new state law requiring Pennsylvania drivers to pull over and stop if they want to use text-based communications went into effect in March 2012, although it remains legal to use a hand-held cellphone behind the wheel. The statewide texting-while-driving ban carries a $50 fine and gives police authority to pull over suspected violators on sight. The new law pertains to phones, computers or other devices that can send texts, emails or similar messages. Police...

Medical malpractice lawsuits usually filed by those with money

Mar 7, 2012

It is a sad reality that each day people throughout the state of Pennsylvania sustain injuries while in the care of the very people who are supposed to be looking out for their health. Those people injured due to the negligence of doctors, nurses, and others working at health care facilities can seek to hold those responsible for their injuries via a medical malpractice lawsuit. A study recently published in the online edition of Clinical...

Woman allegedly harming others by injecting silicone in buttocks

Mar 7, 2012

Each day, individuals throughout the Pittsburgh area are injured due to the negligence of another person. In those instances, the injured parties may try to recover financial compensation from the negligent individuals or entities that caused the injuries. To accomplish this, they need to file a personal injury lawsuit. Thought one of the most common situation in which as person can be injured is in motor vehicle accidents, there are of course many different ways...

Guilty plea from man behind the wheel in deadly car accident

Mar 7, 2012

In September 2010, a then 17-year-old teenager was driving a car that crashed in Pennsylvania. That crash killed his passenger, a 16-year-old girl. Police believe that at the time of the motor vehicle accident the driver was intoxicated. Prior to the crash the vehicle the man was driving reportedly ran a red light. He then attempted to get away from the police by speeding up to 100 mph. The chase ended when the man rolled...

Unnecessary treatment leads to profound brain injury

Mar 5, 2012

Residents of Ohio often trust their doctors. Ohio residents should feel confident that when they are struck with illness, residents can go to the doctor and most often be cured. However, seemingly minor ailments can amount to catastrophic injury when not handled properly. One woman went to the doctor after suffering a strange seizure. Doctors diagnosed her as suffering from brain cancer and delivered a powerful treatment of whole-brain radiation. The treatment was so strong...