Avoidable Medication Errors Kill Patients

According to a report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, medication errors injure or kill 1.5 million people each year.  The extra medical costs caused by these errors is estimated conservatively at $3.5 billion per year.

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11623

Of course, the extra medical costs are just the tip of the iceberg.  Injured patients suffer pain, disability, and sometimes death.  Their families lose a parent, a sibling, a child.  If the injured patient is a breadwinner for the family, the family experiences additional and unnecessary economic stress.

If you have suffered a severe injury or a family member has died as a result of a medication error caused by a physician, nurse or other healthcare provider, contact us at 866-699-9758 or visit us at   http://www.hillhardman.com/Medical-Malpractice/Medication-Errors.shtml.  

We can help and we'll take your injury personally.

Federal Government May Require More Sophisticated "Black Boxes" in Cars

The U.S. National Research Council has recommended that all automobiles be fitted with event data recorders or "black boxes" similar to the ones used by the airline industry.  Although many automobiles and commercial vehicles are currently fitted with event data recorders related to air bag deployment and certain engine data, the recommendations could prompt the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to require more sophisticated devices in automobiles and other vehicles. Such devices could aid investigators in determining the cause of accidents.  For more information on this issue, see the link below.

http://news.yahoo.com/black-box-data-recorders-coming-cars-170827597.html

If you've been seriously injured in an automobile or trucking accident, call the lawyers at Hill Hardman, LLC at (330) 253-4000 to see whether event data recorder information may help prove your case. 

http://www.hillhardman.com/Motor-vehicle-accidents/Commercial-Trucking-Accidents.shtml

Ohio Legislature Considers Raising Speed Limit on Ohio Interstates to 70 MPH

The Ohio House of Representatives is considering legislation that would increase the speed limit on Ohio interstate highways to 70 miles per hour for all vehicles.  The bill would also prohibit drivers from using the left lane other than to pass another vehicle. The bill was sponsored by Representative Ron Maag, a Republican from southwestern Ohio.   According to Representative Maag, these changes have already been implemented on the Ohio Turnpike and similar changes in neighboring states have not led to more accidents. 

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/5153000

If you've been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call Hill Hardman, LLC at (330) 253-400 or visit our website at the link below.

http://www.hillhardman.com/Motor-vehicle-accidents/

Ohio Senate Stalls Anti-Texting Bill

Texting while driving is dangerous.  In fact, some researchers have concluded it's as dangerous as drinking and driving.  Nevertheless, the Ohio Senate has stalled legislation that would make texting while driving in Ohio illegal.  For additional information regarding the status of that legislation and similar local laws throughout Ohio, see the attached link.

http://handsfreeinfo.com/ohio-cell-phone-laws-legislation

If you've been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, call Hill hardman, LLC or visit our website at the link provided.

http://www.hillhardman.com/Motor-vehicle-accidents/Texting-While-Driving-Accidents.shtml

Sleep Deprivation Amongst Resident Physicians Takes Its Toll

Most large urban hospitals have residency programs.  The resident physicians are medical school graduates who are not fully trained until they complete their residencies.  The benefit to the medical school graduate is that he or she obtains necessary experience.  The benefit to the private practice physicians is that they don't have to be present at the hospital around the clock.  The residents act as their eyes and ears when the staff physicans are at their offices or home in bed or on the golf course.  The benefit to the hospital is cheap, semi-skilled labor.  Unfortunately for the patient, the workload for the residents is exhausting and the quality of care suffers accordingly.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/01/opinion/la-oe-0701-leape-medicine-20110701

Historically, residents have worked regular 30-hour shifts with limited to no sleep. Surgical residents often work 80 to 100 hour weeks.  Inexperience and sleep deprivation are hardly a safe combination, but the medical community has been slow to change this practice, despite evidence that patient safety is at risk.   

http://www.hourswatch.org/storage/resident_work_hours_brochure_single_pages.pdf

New regulations adopted by the medical community have limited the length of shifts for first-year residents, but have left in place archaic shift lengths and weekly work hours for all other residents. 

If you believe that your hospitalization or the medical care of your loved one was compromised by an exhausted resident, contact the injury lawyers at Hill Hardman, LLC at (330) 253-4000 or visit our website.

http://www.hillhardman.com/Medical-Malpractice/

Department of Transportation Implements New Hours of Service Rule to Improve Safety

     On December 22, 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced a new safety rule to reduce driver fatigue and help reduce fatigue-related accidents.  "Trucking is a difficult job, and a big rig can be deadly when a driver is tired and overworked" said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

     The new Hours of Service rule reduces by 12 hours the maximum number of hours a commercial truck driver can work within a week. The new rule limits a driver's work week to 70 hours.  Additionally, truck drivers cannot continue to drive after working 8 hours without taking a break of 30 or more minutes.

     For other details regarding the new HOS regulations, please use the link below.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/index.htm

     If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, contact the injury lawyers at Hill Hardman, LLC by calling (330) 253-4000 or visiting our website.

www.hillhardman.com/Practice-Areas/