Blog

News

view all

Library

Firm News

Death from Stroke While Hospitalized for Heart Attack
FDA To Detain Food Shipments From China Over Concern About Melamine
Preeclampsia Causes Epilepsy in Children
HPV Caused 25,000 Cancers, according to CDC
Car Crash Kills Police Officer in Washington County
UPMC to Build Hospital in Monroeville
Study on Chemotherapy After Colon Cancer Surgery
Route 22 Needs Repairs in Murrysville
School Bus Crash in Mt. Pleasant, Washington County
Crash on Route 51 in Pittsburgh
Coffee Doesn't Cause Breast Cancer
coffee doesn't cause breast cancer
Patients Report Adverse Events Not Found in Medical Records
Colon Cancer Screening Rates Too Low
Study Shows Exercise Lowers Risk of Colon Cancer
Crane Accident Kills Man in Fayette County
Preventing Medical Errors Could Decrease Healtcare Costs by 30%
Don't Become a Victim of Surgical Errors
New Test for Genes that Cause Breast Cancer
Decode Genetics is now offering a simple test for the genes that cause breast cancer. It is done by blood test or cheek swab.
Mastectomy after Recurrence of Breast Cancer is Recommended
Three Injured in Dump Truck Wreck
Death from Fall of Construction Worker in Pittsburgh
construction worker death from fall
Test for Common Breast Cancer Genes Now Offered
Car Crash in Fayette County on Route 857 Kills One
Car Crash in Cambria County on 219 Kills One
Car Crash in Avella Washington County Injures Three
HPV Discoverer Wins Nobel Prize
Babies Born Prematurely More Likely to Have Cerebral Palsy
Breast Cancer Patients Lacking Knowledge About Treatment
Risk of Breast Cancer Relapse Can Linger
Jeannette Man Dies in Car Crash
Country of Origin Label Law Goes into Effect Nationwide
Melamine-Tainted Candy Found in United States
Blue Cat Yogurt Drinks Found to Contain Melamine
Truck Accident Deaths in Washington County Truck Crash Lawyer
Food Poisoning From E Coli Kills 1, Dozens Hospitalized in OK
Man Dies in Beaver County when Chainsaw Kicks Back and Strikes Face
Errors in Doctors Office
Recalled kerosene may be tied to death of Mercer County woman
UPMC profits down but overall financial condition still good
FDA approves irradiation of greens to curb E. coli and salmonella food poisoning
UPMC looking to expand operations in Europe and the Middle East
Feds:Texas Bus Company a Public Safety Hazard
UPMC chief gets $3.95 million for 2007
Dye developed in Pittsburgh could predict Alzheimer's 10 years before it strikes
A compound developed in Pittsburgh capable of determining risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Pittsburgh lawsuit alleges kickbacks paid to local doctors
Many Miss Out on Stroke Treatment
Zimmer Stops sales of Durom Hip Replacement Cap
Pittsburgh Magazine Lists Paul Lagnese as One of the Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Pittsburgh
Berger Lagnese Files Suit on Behalf of Patient who had Colonoscopies with Improperly Cleaned Colonoscopes
Berger Lagnese Obtains $2.5 Million Vedict Against UPMC In Pittsburgh Man's Death
Five years after his death, a jury finds UPMC Shadyside hospital responsible for a 24 year old man's death.
Colonoscopy Cleansing Problems
Officials from West Penn Allegheny Health System, the parent company of Forbes, announced Wednesday that two of the hospital's colonoscopes weren't being disinfected adequately in between cancer-screening procedures.
Medical Errors cost US billions

Death from Stroke While Hospitalized for Heart Attack

A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concludes that the incidence of stroke as a complication of heart attack has decreased since the late 1990s, but death during hospitalization in affected patients has not shown a corresponding decrease.

This study looked at 9,220 patients hospitalized for heart attack between 1986 and 2005, and found that 132 patients (1.4 percent) suffered a first acute stroke during hospitalization. The frequency of stroke increased through the 1990s, peaked in 1999, and declined slightly thereafter, the researchers found.

Age at least 75 years, female gender, a previous heart attack, and development of a serious irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation during hospitalization were all associated with significantly increased odds of stroke. Having had a minimally invasive coronary intervention during hospitalization was associated with a lower risk of stroke.

The researchers also found that the likelihood of dying while hospitalized was significantly higher among patients who experienced an acute stroke compared to those who did not (34.1 percent versus 11.6 percent). Further, patients with bleeding or "hemorrhagic" stroke were more likely to die while in the hospital than those with ischemic stroke - the kind that results from a blockage.

The researchers found that the risk of dying during hospitalization for heart attack in patients who suffer a stroke has not decreased in recent years.

FDA To Detain Food Shipments From China Over Concern About Melamine

The FDA has issued a detention order on dozens of imported foods from China. The FDA says that foods made with milk will be held at ports of entry, as a precaution, until independent tests show they are free of the industrial chemical melamine. The order, which also applies to pet foods, was posted on the FDA Web site Thursday.

Preeclampsia Causes Epilepsy in Children

A study reported in the medical journal Pediatrics reports that for women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancy, there is an increased risk of epilepsy in their children who are born after 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is a condition that develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine. The best treatment is to deliver the infant. If this is not feasible, bed rest, close monitoring, and delivery as soon survival outside of the womb is likely is recommended, preferably after the 37th week of pregnancy. Women are usually hospitalized and carefully monitored.

Prior research has identified eclampsia as a strong risk factor for epilepsy in offspring, but whether the same held true with preeclampsia was unclear. Eclampsia occurs when pre-eclampsia worsens and is characterized by seizures, agitation and unconsciousness. Eclampsia is considered a medical emergency and jeopardizes the life of the mother and child.

Preeclampsia exposure was also linked to epilepsy in children born after 37 weeks of gestation. With mild preeclampsia, the epilepsy rate was increased by 16 and 68 percent for full-term and postterm infants, respectively. For severe preeclampsia, the corresponding risks increased by 41 percent and 157 percent.

Consistent with previous reports, eclampsia was associated with a stronger risk of epilepsy.

HPV Caused 25,000 Cancers, according to CDC

The Centers for Disease Control released their first estimate of cancers caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Twenty-five thousand cases of HPV-associated cancers occurred in 38 states and the District of Columbia annually during 1998-2003, according to the CDC. The report, “Assessing the Burden of Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-Associated Cancers in the United States (ABHACUS),” was published online and appears in the Nov. 15, 2008, supplement edition of Cancer.

The top HPV-associated cancer sites were cervix, oral cavity and oropharynx, anus, vulva, penis, and vagina. Some HPV types can cause cervical cancer and other less common cancers, such as cancer of the vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. Other HPV types can cause genital warts.

Significant findings include:

Age-adjusted rates are presented in parentheses where appropriate and are per 100,000 persons.

CERVIX: More HPV-associated cancers occur in the cervix than any other site – about 10,800 per year. The incidence rate of cervical cancer was 8.9 women during 1998-2003. Black and Hispanic women had higher rates of cervical cancer (12.6 and 14.2, respectively) than white and non-Hispanic women (both 8.4).
ORAL CAVITY AND OROPHARYNX: Cancers in some areas of the head and neck (oral cavity and oropharynx) are more likely to be HPV-associated than other areas. There were nearly 7,400 potentially HPV-associated cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx per year – nearly 5,700 among men and about 1,700 among women. Incidence rates for a subset of the HPV-associated cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx (cancers of the tonsil and cancers of the base of the tongue) were higher in men than women. These cancers significantly increased (3.0 percent) per year during the reporting period.
ANAL: There were more than 3,000 HPV-associated anal cancers per year – about 1,900 in women and 1,100 in men. HPV-associated anal cancer occurs more frequently among women (1.5) compared to men (1.0). Whites had the highest rates among women (1.6), while blacks had the highest rates among men (1.2).
VULVAR: There were about 2,300 new cases of vulvar cancer each year during the study period. In contrast to cervical cancer, white women (1.8) had higher rates of vulvar cancer than black (1.3) and Asian/Pacific Islander (0.4) women.
PENILE: Penile cancer is relatively rare, striking about 800 men each year. Incidence rates were higher among Hispanic men (1.3) than non-Hispanic men (0.8).
VAGINAL: About 600 women a year developed vaginal cancers. Incidence rates were higher among black women than white women (0.7 and 0.4, respectively), and incidence rates were lowest among Asian/Pacific Islander women (0.3).
Women with a history of cervical cancer have an increased risk of developing subsequent in situ (non-invasive) cancers of the vagina and vulva, as well as invasive cancers of the vagina, vulva, and rectum.

Car Crash Kills Police Officer in Washington County

On November 4, 2008 two people were killed in a crash on Interstate 70 in Washington County. One person killed was an off duty South Strabane police Officer, Nathaniel Burnfield. He was killed while trying to remove debris from the road. Ronald Kennedy of Connellsville was also killed.

State police said a tire had come off a pickup truck in the westbound lanes and a double tractor-trailer belonging to UPS struck the tire a short time later.

State police said the accident happened when Mr. Burnfield tried to retrieve the tire that was lying on the highway. Mr. Kennedy swerved his dump truck to avoid the officer's car but instead struck Burnfield. Kennedy's truck then hit another truck that was on the side of the road.

UPMC to Build Hospital in Monroeville

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) plans to build a seven-story hospital in Monroeville, on the site of a former hotel near the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

In March, UPMC said it was buying the former Palace Inn on Mosside Boulevard in Monroeville for nearly $19 million. The building sits on 12 acres.

At that time, UPMC said the entire structure would be renovated into a health center with outpatient clinics, diagnostic imaging services, an ambulatory surgery center, and urgent care center and doctors' offices.

But now, according to a filing with the local planning commission, UPMC plans to put a 334,000-square-foot hospital and a parking garage on the grounds. The plans alos include an emergency center.

UPMC is the biggest employer in the Pittsburgh region.

Study on Chemotherapy After Colon Cancer Surgery

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology examined whether chemotherapy after surgical resectionof colorectal cancer metastases reduced the risk of recurrenceand improve survival.Two phase III trials used a similardesign and showed a trend favoring adjuvant chemotherapy, butboth had to close prematurely because of slow accrual, thuslacking the statistical power to demonstrate the predefineddifference in survival. Here, they reported a pooled analysis basedon individual data from these two trials.

These patients had complete resection of colorectal liver or lung metastases. Patients were randomly assigned to surgery plus chemotherapy or surgery alone.
Median progression-free survival was27.9 months in the Chemotherapy plus Sugery Group as compared with 18.8 months in theSurgery Alone Group. Median overall survival was 62.2 months in the Chemotherapy plus Sugery Group comparedwith 47.3 months in the Surgery Alone Group. Adjuvant chemotherapy was independentlyassociated with both progression-free survival and overall survivalin multivariable analysis.

Their conclusion: a marginal statistical significancein favor of chemotherapy with an FU bolus–basedregimen after complete resection of colorectal cancer metastases.

Route 22 Needs Repairs in Murrysville

Route 22 reopened in August, having expanded from two to four lanes after several years of construction . Now, Route 22 already needs costly repair work in Murrysville, Westmoreland County.

PennDOT has been closing one lane of the highway in each direction overnight so workers can replace six-foot-long sections of the cracked roadway.

Corners of the concrete slabs are deteriorating because tie rods were installed too close to the corners, PennDOT said. Repair costs are estimated at $846,000.

School Bus Crash in Mt. Pleasant, Washington County

Dozens of people were hurt and one person was killed after a school bus and a pickup truck crashed in Mt. Pleasant Township in Washington County on Route 18.

The bus was carrying 48 Burgettstown High School students to the Western Area Career and Technical Center when the crash happened.

The driver of the truck, 43-year-old Brian Nehus, died in the crash.

The driver of the bus, 42-year-old Birgit Brown, suffered minor injuries.

Marlaina Lamoreau was a student on the bus.

Many on the bus were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Coroner Tim Warco said the driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Coroner, a beer was found in the operator's vehicle.

State Troopers said they suspect speed was a major factor in the crash.

Crash on Route 51 in Pittsburgh

A severe crash occurred on Route 51 in Pittsburgh's Overbrook neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.

Crews had to cut a woman out from the wreckage near Englert Street after her car slammed into a utility pole.

She was taken from the scene in critical condition. Authorities did not irelease her identity or a cause of the crash.

Coffee Doesn't Cause Breast Cancer

Amount of caffeine consumption is not associated with an overall increased risk of breast cancer. These results were recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Breast cancer is diagnosed in nearly 200,000 women annually in the United States. With such a high prevalence, researchers are evaluating ways in which to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, and particularly ways in which individuals can alter their lifestyle choices to reduce their risks. There has been perception that consumption of coffee, particularly in large amounts, may increase the risk of developing breast cancer. However, more recent research has not been able to establish a clear association between coffee and breast cancer. Research further exploring this association continues.

Researchers from Harvard University and Japan recently conducted a clinical study to further explore the potential relationship between caffeine consumption and the risk of breast cancer. The study was an analysis of data that included over 38,000 women ages 45 years or older.

The results of the analysis indicated that the consumption of caffeine, caffeinated beverages or caffeinated foods was not associated with an overall risk of breast cancer. Among women with non-cancerous breast disease, those who consumed the largest amount of caffeine had a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. Caffeine consumption was, however, associated with hormone-negative breast cancers and breast tumors larger than 2 cm.

The researchers concluded, "These data show no overall association between caffeine consumption and breast cancer risk. The possibility of increased risk in women with benign breast disease or for tumors that are estrogen and progesterone-receptor negative or larger than 2 cm warrants further study."

Reference: Ishitani K, Lin J, Manson J, et al. Caffeine Consumption and the Risk of Breast Cancer in a Large Prospective Cohort of Women. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2008; 168: 2022-2031.

Patients Report Adverse Events Not Found in Medical Records

Reuters Health reports that there is significant difference in the number of serious and preventable events noted in patients' hospital charts and those reported by patients. In a study of almost 1000 patients 23% of the patients reported serious preventable events in post discharge interviews. However a review of those patients' medical charts only showed 11% of the charts documented the serious and preventable events.

Colon Cancer Screening Rates Too Low

Reuters Health reports that colon cancer screening rates in the US are too low. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US but it doesn't have to be according to Dr. Jean Shapiro of the Centers for Disease Control. That is becaue if detected early colon cancer can be cured. Regular screening for colon cancer is recommended for persons 50 and over. However, only about half of people who responded to a recent survey were getting the proper screening. There is a link between those that have health insurance and screening, as only 24% of those who did not have health insurance had regular screening. The current recommendations for people 50 and over is to get a Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) yearly, flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years and a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Study Shows Exercise Lowers Risk of Colon Cancer

US News and World Report is reporting about a study done at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia that shows that people who get a lot of exercise are at a 30 to 40 per cent lower risk of developing colon cancer.

If you were diagnosed with colon or colorectal cancer and you suspect that your cancer was not timely and properly diagnosed, please call us at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or click here. Berger & Lagnese, lawyers specializing in medical malpractice, work on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Erie, Washington, and all courts in Western Pennsylvania.

Crane Accident Kills Man in Fayette County

Robert Stoots, 28, died at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV, on Monday, August 18, 2008, after a crane counterweight fell on him while he was working at Coolspring Stone Supply, Inc., in North Union Township in Fayette County. Officials say that the counterweight weighed between five and ten tons.

The lawyers at Berger & Lagnese are experienced in negligence, premises liability and products liability lawsuits arising out of industrial and construction site accidents. If you suspect that you or someone you love was injured due to negligence or a faulty product or equipment, call us at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161.

Preventing Medical Errors Could Decrease Healtcare Costs by 30%

UPI reports that in addition to saving lifes, preventing medical errors could decrease healthcare costs by as much as 30%. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states in a new study that cost savings from reducing medical errors is much larger than previously thought.

Don't Become a Victim of Surgical Errors

CNN reports on some things a surgical patient can do in order to help prevent surgical errors. First investigate your doctor and hospital. Make sure they regularly perform the surgery you are having done. Second, tell everyone you come into contact at the hospital who you are and why you are having surgery. Third, make sure your doctor initials the surgery site. Fourth, confirm youf surgical site with your surgeon immediately before the operation. And finally, train a friend or family member to be your advocate.

New Test for Genes that Cause Breast Cancer

The Washington Post reports that a biotech company today will begin offering the first genetic test to assess a woman's risk for the most common forms of breast cancer. Prior to this, the only tests were for rare genes.

The company is Decode Genetics of Reykjavik, Iceland. This test will be performed using a simple blood sample or cheek swab.

This test costs $1,625. There has been much criticism of this test. Some said that the results could scare them unnecessarily. Others say that it could cause women not to get mammograms or other screening tests for breast cancer.

The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate such tests when they are performed by the labs offering them.

For more information about breast cancer, see the Pennsylvania breast cancer malpractice lawyers.

Mastectomy after Recurrence of Breast Cancer is Recommended

If cancer recurs in the same breast after a lumpectomy, mastectomy may be the best next step, researchers here found.

Women who opted for a second lumpectomy for an ipsilateral recurrence had a significantly worse overall survival compared with those who had a mastectomy (P=0.03), Steven Chen, M.D., and Steve Martinez, M.D., of the University of California Davis here, reported in the October issue of the American Journal of Surgery.

Five-year survivals after a cancer recurrence were 67% and 78% for the lumpectomy and mastectomy groups, respectively. Ten-year survivals were 57% and 62%, respectively.

"As therapy for breast cancer becomes more targeted and researchers come closer to identifying those factors that make some breast cancers more aggressive than others, we may have the option of recommending second and even third lumpectomies in select cases in the future," Dr. Martinez said.

"Until then," he said, "mastectomy remains the best option for women experiencing a same-breast recurrence of their breast cancer."

Increased rates of breast cancer survival and a decreased emphasis on mastectomy have combined to increase the opportunity for recurrence of the cancer, according to the researchers.

Because many women who have breast-conservation surgery for a first breast cancer decide to use the same treatment for a recurrence, Drs. Chen and Martinez set out to evaluate whether the decision had any effect on survival.

They identified 747 women who had had lumpectomies followed by radiation and had then been diagnosed with an ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Of those, 24% decided to have another lumpectomy. Lumpectomy patients were significantly older than those who had a mastectomy (64 versus 60, P=0.03).

A significantly greater, but still small, proportion of lumpectomy patients received radiation therapy after their surgery (21% versus 5%, P<0.001).

"We were surprised by the number of patients undergoing lumpectomy alone as treatment for second breast cancers," Drs. Chen and Martinez said. "Certainly, prior data on initial breast cancers would seem to indicate that there are unacceptable recurrence rates when lumpectomy is not paired with radiation."

In a multivariate analysis controlling for age, sex, tumor stage, hormone-receptor status, use of radiation, and disease-free interval, patients who opted for a mastectomy had a survival advantage of 50% (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.8, P=0.003).

Aside from the use of lumpectomy, other significant predictors of worse overall survival were higher T stage (P<0.001), higher grade (P=0.05), negative estrogen-receptor status (P<0.001), and older age (P=0.001).

According to the researchers, lumpectomy has overtaken mastectomy as the most common breast cancer surgery over the past 30 years.

An increasing number of women must now decide what to do in case of a recurrence, they said.

"Traditional teaching on this has been fairly straightforward: mastectomy is the preferred option," they said. "However, advances in systemic therapy, and the general preference expressed by American women for breast conservation have challenged this teaching."

"Still," they continued, "mastectomy clearly provides the maximal risk reduction in the recurrence of breast cancer because it leaves the least amount of breast tissue behind."

The authors acknowledged some limitations of the study, including the possible miscoding of data, the lack of information on adjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy and margin status, and the use of overall survival as an endpoint rather than disease-specific survival.

"Despite these limitations," they said, "these data bring about an alarming set of observations. The number of patients receiving therapy that many would consider to be suboptimal is significant and increasing. Although breast conservation has become the default procedure for many breast surgeons, its use in the recurrent setting should not be recommended as equivalent to mastectomy at this time."

Three Injured in Dump Truck Wreck

A dump truck that owned by Thomas Didiano and Sons that an expired inspection sticker appearently lost its brakes in the West End of Pittsburgh. The dump truck hit a pick up truck continued through and intersection hit another pick up truck and utility truck. Both the pick up truck and the utility truck were driven into a construction trailer that then crashed into a duplex. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that at least three people were injured, however the individuals in the duplex were not hurt.

The driver of the dump truck and the owner may face multiple violations and citations, pending conclusion of a city police inspection of the truck.

For more information about truck and car crashes see the Pennsylvania Car and Truck Accident Lawyers.

Death from Fall of Construction Worker in Pittsburgh

On October 7, a construction worker fell to his death at Wood Street and Fourth Avenue in Pittsburgh.

According to police, Brian Obermeier fell from the roof of the Commonwealth Building, which is next to the former Union National Bank. Union National Bank is being renovated.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the accident.

For more information about industrial accidents, see the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania accident lawyers website.

Test for Common Breast Cancer Genes Now Offered

Car Crash in Fayette County on Route 857 Kills One

A car crash on October 2 resulted in the death of one person and two others were taken to the hospital. The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 857 and Big Six Road. The man in a Hyundai Elantra was killed after hitting a Ford Explorer. A medical helicopter flew at least one person to a hospital, officials said. The accident is being investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police.

More information about car accidents in Pennsylvania can be found at the Pa. car accident lawyers website.

Car Crash in Cambria County on 219 Kills One

A Pittsburgh man died in a car crash on Saturday in Cambria County. Raylaun Thornton, 23, of Pittsburgh, was killed on U.S. 219 in East Carroll when his 2000 Saturn flipped and struck a guardrail. Mr. Thornton was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shannon Brown, a passenger, was taken to Conemaugh Hospital with injuries, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

More information about car accidents in Pennsylvania can be found at the car accident lawyers website.

Car Crash in Avella Washington County Injures Three

Three people were injured in a car crash in Avella on Route 50 in Washington County.

Medical helicopters flew three people to area hospitals.

State police said John Schultz was traveling westbound on Route 50 when he struck another car head-on. State police said the driver of the second car was Ellen Ondrick and her passenger was Angeline Ondrick. They were transported to UPMC Medical Center with serious injuries.

Schultz was transported to Allegheny General Hospital. He faces DUI charges.

For more information about car and truck accidents, see the Pennsylvania car and truck accident attorneys website.

HPV Discoverer Wins Nobel Prize

According to The New York Times, a German virologist, Harald zur Hausen, will receive half the Nobel Prize award for his discovery of HPV, the human papilloma virus. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm selects the medical winners of the prize. This discovery led to development of a vaccine against cervical cancer.

Dr. zur Hausen of the University of Heidelberg discovered the first HPV type 16, in 1983 from biopsies of women who had cervical cancer. A year later, Dr. zur Hausen cloned HPV 16 and another type, 18.
Of the more than 100 human papilloma viruses now known, about 40 infect the genital tract, and 15 of them put women at high risk for cervical cancer. Papilloma viruses account for more than 5 percent of all cancers worldwide.

The other half of the Nobel Priz award will be shared by two French virologists for discovering H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS.

More information about cervical cancer can be found at the website of the cervical cancer malpractice lawyers of Pennsylvania.

Babies Born Prematurely More Likely to Have Cerebral Palsy

The July 17, 2008 New England Journal of Medicine reported that for children born at term (40 weeks) the risk of cerebral palsy 0.1 percent compared to 9.1 % for babies born between 23 and 27 weeks. Those premature babies when grown were also more likely to be unemployed and to be receiving Social Security benefits.

If you think your child's cerebral palsy was caused by the negligence of a doctor or hospital personel, please call us directly at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or click here.

Breast Cancer Patients Lacking Knowledge About Treatment

Reuters Health reports that a recent study on 1,130 woman who were diagnosed with breast cancer shows that many woman are not getting important information regarding treatment options. Significantly, about 50% of the woman did not know the difference in survival rates between mastectomy and breast conserving surgery.

Risk of Breast Cancer Relapse Can Linger

A study in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute reveals that 11% of woman who had breast cancer and were disease free at 5 years had a recurrence by 10 years. You can read more about this in our blog.

If you suspect that your breast cancer was not timely and properly diagnosed or treated, please call us at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or contact us. At Berger & Lagnese, our lawyers specialize in medical malpractice, and work on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Beaver, Erie, Washington, and all courts in Western Pennsylvania. Our team of lawyers will find out what happened with your medical care and will get you the answers to your questions.

Jeannette Man Dies in Car Crash

A car crash on Saturday in Hempfield killed a man from Jeannette man. Kevin W. DeLuke, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, which occurred on Greensburg-Mt. Pleasant Road.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Mr. DeLuke was driving his pickup truck at high speeds when he lost control of his vehicle.

His truck struck a tree.

Mr. DeLuke, who was not wearing a seat belt, was partially ejected from the vehicle during the accident.

According to the Coroner, he died of trauma to the head.

Country of Origin Label Law Goes into Effect Nationwide

A new federal law went into effect on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, mandating "Country of Origin" labels on whole foods. The law is called the "COOL" law. Under this new law, all raw foods, such as fruits and vegetables will be labeled with their country of origin. However, if the food is processed in any way, the country of origin label will not be required. For example, unshelled peanuts will require the country of origin label; shelled peanuts will not require the country of origin label. As another example, cantalopes will require the country of origin label; but if that same cantalope is cut up at the grocery store and placed in a fruit salad, the fruit salad will require no country of origin label.

Berger & Lagnese is your premier law firm in Pittsburgh and all of Western Pennsylvania for food poisoning cases. If you were the victim of food poisoning contact Berger & Lagnese immediately for a free consultation. Let the lawyers at Berger & Lagnese help you with your food poisoning case.

Melamine-Tainted Candy Found in United States

White Rabbit Creamy Candy brand candy made in China and sold in the United States has been found to contain the industrial chemical melamine. The candy was discovered at four different stores in Connecticut on Wednesday, October 1, 2008. In September, the FDA warned consumers about White Rabbit candy because of concerns over possible melamine contamination. Melanine tainted samples of the candy were also found in California in September. Melamine is at the heart of China’s scandal over contaminated dairy products. Used to make plastics and fertilizers, melamine is sometimes illegally mixed into food products, including milk, because its high level of nitrogen helps fool tests that measure protein levels. In September, Chinese authorities acknowledged that more than 53,000 Chinese infants had been sickened after consuming powdered baby formula that had been contaminated with melamine. Of that total, 13,000 were hospitalized and four died.

Blue Cat Yogurt Drinks Found to Contain Melamine

On October 3, 2008, Tristar Food Wholesale of Jersey City, New Jersey, announced that Chinese-made yogurt drinks called Blue Cat Flavor Drink, or Lanmao, have been found to contain melamine. These drinks are sold nationwide at Asian grocery stores and come in several fruit flavors, including strawberry, orange, pineapple and peach. Melamine first came to the attention of U.S. consumers last year, when it touched off a massive pet food recall. Chinese suppliers of bulk pet food ingredients were found to have been adding the chemical to artificially boost the protein readings of their products. Thousands of pets here were sickened, and hundreds are believed to have died. Melamine is harmful to the kidneys. It can cause kidney stones as the body tries to eliminate it, and in extreme cases, life-threatening kidney failure.

Berger & Lagnese is your premier law firm in Pittsburgh and all of Western Pennsylvania for food poisoning cases. If you were the victim of food poisoning contact Berger & Lagnese immediately for a free consultation. Let the lawyers at Berger & Lagnese help you with your food poisoning case.

Truck Accident Deaths in Washington County Truck Crash Lawyer

An April crash that killed five people associated with a Bentleyville personal care home has been ruled an accident.

The Coroner in Washington County, Timothy Warco, ruled yesterday that a crash at Route 136 and Brownlee Road in Somerset Township on April 24, 2008 was an accident. Five people died.

The crash was between a tractor-trailer and a van from a personal care home in Bentleyville. Three residents of Enhanced Personal Care Home were killed. Also, two staff members of the home died.

The residents were on their way to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

The van was driven by Sheryl Maiolini. The following people died: Ms. Maiolini, Mary E. Watkins, John Maise, Richard Paquet and Julia Hugus.

For more information call the car and truck accident lawyers, serving Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Beaver, Washington, Erie and all of Western Pennsylvania.

Food Poisoning From E Coli Kills 1, Dozens Hospitalized in OK

A food poisoning outbreak due to the bacteria e coli in an OK restaurant has resulted in the death of one person and the hospitalization of dozens of others.

Man Dies in Beaver County when Chainsaw Kicks Back and Strikes Face

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a Rodney Swanson, 45, died on Friday, August 22, 2008, while doing logging work in Beaver County. Mr. Swanson was fatally injured when the chain saw he was operating got stuck and kicked back, hitting him in the face.

Errors in Doctors Office

A recent study on errors in doctor's offices showed that 60% of the errors found were related to reporting test results to the doctor. The study sponsered by that American Academy of American Academy of Family Physicians and the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality also reports that 18% of the errors that occur in a doctor's office result in physical or emotional injury to the patient. Read more about errors in doctors offices in this blog.

If you believe you have been injured as a result of an error that occurred in a doctor's office call us at 412-471-4300 or toll free at 800-350-6161, or email us. Berger & Lagnese has an experienced team of lawyers and doctors that specializes in medical malpractice, and works on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Erie, Beaver, Washington, and throughout Western Pennsylvania.

Recalled kerosene may be tied to death of Mercer County woman

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that gasoline-tainted kerosene sold by Pittsburgh Terminals Corp., of Coraopolis is being looked at as a possible cause of the June 27 burning death of Ada Kurtz, 25, of Mercer County. Ms. Kurtz was burned over 70% of her body by gasoline fumes that ignited when she tried to light a heater with what she thought to be kerosene. Pittsburgh Terminals Corp. has issued a recall of all of its kerosene after determining that a faulty valve at the company's supply center was allowing gasoline to mix with kerosene. The recall applies to all kerosene sold by Pittsburgh Terminals Corp. from May 1, 2008 to the date of the recall, August 19, 2008.

If you suspect that you have been injured as a result of gasoline-tainted kerosene, you should call the lawyers at Berger & Lagnese at 412-471-4300 or toll free 800-350-6161, or email us. Berger & Lagnese has an experienced team of lawyers that specializes in product liability lawsuits, and works on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Mercer, Erie, Beaver, Washington, and throughout Western Pennsylvania.

UPMC profits down but overall financial condition still good

UPMC announced on August 21, 2008 that its profits for fiscal year 2008 were $5 million. That is down from a reported $612 million in fiscal year 2007. Most of this decline is due to losses in UPMC's investment portfolio. UPMC remains remains exceedingly profitable, earning $184 million in 2008 in its hospital, doctor, and health insurance operations. The money generated in 2008 by UPMC's hospitals, health insurance business, and other holdings was $7.02 billion, up 12% from fiscal year 2007.

FDA approves irradiation of greens to curb E. coli and salmonella food poisoning

In an effort to curb outbreaks of food poisoning, the FDA will issue a new regulation today (Friday, August 22, 2008) to allow spinach and lettuce to be irradiated, i.e., subjected to low levels of radiation. Meat, especially ground beef, has been subjected to irradiation for several years. Now the FDA says producers of spinach and lettuce can do the same. The Center for Science in the Public Interest says that although zapping food with radiation will kill E. coli and other bacteria, it will not kill viruses that increasingly contaminate produce. A better way to curb produce-related food poisoning outbreaks is to improve efforts to eliminate contamination on the farms that produce our spinach, lettuce and other vegetables. What is really needed, according to The Center for Science in the Public Interest, is for producers of fresh fruits and vegetables to adopt cleaner production practices so that our produce is never contaminated in the first place. In a 2006 petition to the FDA, the Center for Science in the Public Interest outlined a series of inexpensive common sense food safety control measures that it believes would greatly reduce or even eliminate food poisoning outbreaks caused by fresh fruits and vegetables.

UPMC looking to expand operations in Europe and the Middle East

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review is reporting that UPMC, the region's largest healthcare provider (with annual revenues of about $7 billion in recent years) is looking to open 25 new cancer centers in Europe and the Middle East in the next 10 years.

Feds:Texas Bus Company a Public Safety Hazard

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has declared a San Antonio Bus company an "imminent hazard" to public safety because of its relationship with a Houston based bus company Iguala Busmex. Iguala Busmex was operating a bus in violation of federal safety rules that crashed and killed 17 people. Read more about this tragic accident in our blog.

UPMC chief gets $3.95 million for 2007

UPMC chief executive officer Jeffrey Romoff received approximately $3.95 million in compensation for fiscal year 2007. That's an increase of 19% from 2006. Mr. Romoff also recieved pension plan contributions of $41,968 and an additional $20,380 for taxable expenses such as a car allowance, spousal travel, and legal and financial counseling. Click here to see the report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Dye developed in Pittsburgh could predict Alzheimer's 10 years before it strikes

An article published on August 11, 2008 in the Archives of Neurology suggests that a compound called "Pittsburgh Compound B" consistently attaches itself to proteins in the brain, and is 90% effective in predicting the later development of beta amyloid plaques, a leading cause of Alzheimer's Disease. Pittsburgh Compound B, or PiB as it is commonly known, is a compound that was developed by University of Pittsburgh researchers as a way to diagnose Alzheimer's Disease. Now, doctors in Finland have discovered that not only is PiB effective in diagnosing the disease once it develops, it also can be used to predict, 10 years in advance, if people are at higher risk of developing the disease. For more information about Alzheimer's Disease, click here.

If you suspect that your disease process, whatever it may be, was not timely and properly diagnosed or treated, please call us directly at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or click here. Berger & Lagnese, headquartered in Pittsburgh, specializes in medical malpractice and works on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Erie, Washington, and all courts in Western Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh lawsuit alleges kickbacks paid to local doctors

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting in today's online edition that several leading manufacturers of hip and knee replacement products are being sued in federal court in Pittsburgh for allegedly making substantial kickback payments to more than two dozen local physicians between the years 1988 and 2007. Click here to go to the Post-Gazette article for more information.

If you suspect that any mistake was made in your hip or knee replacement surgery, you should call us directly at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or click here. Berger & Lagnese, headquartered in Pittsburgh, specializes in medical malpractice and works on cases in Pittsburgh, Greensburg, Uniontown, Erie, Washington, and all courts in Western Pennsylvania.

Many Miss Out on Stroke Treatment

Health Day News reports that most people don't act quickly enough to get the clot dissolving treatment that can limit brain damage as a result of a stroke. In order for the treatment to be effective you must get the treatment within three hours of onset of symptoms. Many people fail to recognize the signs of a stroke. Also even when people get to the hospital emergency room there is often a delay in treatment.

If you believe you have suffered injuries as a result of not getting timely treatment in a hospital emergency room, please call us at 412-471-4300 or 800-350-6161, or click here.

Zimmer Stops sales of Durom Hip Replacement Cap

Zimmer Holdings has stopped sales of it Durom Hip Replacement Cap due to reports of a very high number of failures. Approximately 13,000 of these Durom Cap have been implanted in patients. Despite being told by one of its own highly paid consultants that the cap should be recalled because it was "crippling people" Zimmer continued to sell the Durom cap for another year.

Pittsburgh Magazine Lists Paul Lagnese as One of the Best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Pittsburgh

The July 2008 edition of Pittsburgh Magazine lists Berger Lagnese partner Paul Lagnese as one of the best Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Pittsburgh.

Berger Lagnese Files Suit on Behalf of Patient who had Colonoscopies with Improperly Cleaned Colonoscopes

Berger Lagnese filed a suit on behalf of patients who underwent colonoscopy at a Forbes Hospital over a four-month span from October 28, 2004 to February 26, 2005 because the colonoscopes were not properly cleaned. As a result of having a colonoscopy with an improperly cleaned colonoscope the patients had to undergo testing and monitoring for HIV and Hepatitis.