New Haven Personal Injury Lawyer

Insulin Pumps for Teens Have Been Linked to Injuries and Deaths

Jenny Albano — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:59:55 GMT

A federal review from the FDA found that insulin pumps used by teenagers with Type 1 diabetes can be dangerous and have been linked to injuries and deaths.

Researchers from the FDA did not advise against teens using the devices, but said that parents should watch their children's use of the pumps while safety concerns are addressed.

The federal review of use by young people over a decade found 13 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries connected with the pumps. At times, the devices malfunctioned, but other times, teens were careless or took risks, the study authors wrote. Some teens didn't know how to use the pumps correctly, dropped them or didn't take good care of them. There were two possible suicide attempts by teens who gave themselves too much insulin, according to the analysis.

These pumps are popular because they allow teens to give themselves insulin discreetly in public and up to 100,000 teens may be using them. The pumps are used for Type 1 diabetes, which is also called juvenile diabetes.

The FDA study, which appears in the May issue of the Journal Pediatrics, reports injuries and deaths related to the pumps from 1996-2005. The report analyzed reports from patients 12 to 21 years old.

While some teenagers want to switch from insulin injections to pump therapy to gain more flexibility in their lives, doctors said device problems such as a blocked tube can lead quickly to dangerous episodes of high blood sugar.

Many doctors screen teens before prescribing a pump and some refuse refuse pumps to immature young patients. Teenagers need to be able to monitor their glucose or else the pump can increase the risk of getting sick more quickly compared to injections.

Connecticut Places Hartford Hospital On Probation

James Sabatini — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:38:45 GMT

Hartford Hospital, the state's second-largest facility in terms of licensed beds, is on probation for a year after complaints arose about its emergency and operating rooms. State officials discovered 28 complaints over a two-year period based on patient surveys. The Department of Health found serious issues during the course of its investigation. There were a number of patient care issues on a system-wide basis ranging from psychiatric care, to emergency department care, to psychiatric issues, to infection control issues. The hospital must take corrective actions or the probation will be extended. Hartford Hopsital has issued an apology to patients and their families where patient care was inadequate.

Avoiding Car Accidents In Bad Winter Weather

James Sabatini — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:12:00 GMT

Bad winter weather is all too common for drivers in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast. Obviously, the best safety tip in avoiding a car accident in bad winter weather is to stay off the roads. But, this is not always a viable option. Many of us need to get to work or reach an important destination such as a pharmacy or hospital, so if you are out driving in winter weather keep these practical safety tips in mind.

1. Watch out for shaded areas on the road. Due to the lack of sun exposure, these shaded areas typically will have snow and ice where the rest of the sunlight roadway is clear of snow and ice.
2. For older cars, check your battery, cable connections, alternator and drive belts. Check your cooling system to make sure that you have the right mix of fresh antifreeze and water. Check hoses for cracks or leaky connections. These checks can prevent an engine from dying on the roadway leaving you stranded in bad weather.
3. Make sure the tires on the car are winter tires or all-season tires. Furthermore, make sure the tires still have good tread. Worn tires will not grip the roadway causing the car to slip and slide.
4. Keep a half a tank of gas in the tank. If you get caught in traffic or in a snowbank, you want sufficient gas to keep the car running and heated.
5. Keep a safety kit in your car that includes a bottle of water, candy bar, flashlight, gloves, jumper cables, and flares.
6. Keep a bag of sand and shovel in the trunk. If you get stuck in snow, you can use the shovel for the snow and then lay down the sand to give your tires traction when getting out of the snow.
Following these safety tips will hopefully prevent a car accident or car breakdown during bad winter weather, but if a car accident does happen, these tips will make the accident a lot more manageable.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Negligence Lawsuits Filed Against St. Francis Hospital - Failure to Supervise Dr. Reardon

James Sabatini — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:36:34 GMT

Two men who say they were sexually molested by Dr. George Reardon filed lawsuits Thursday against St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, claiming the hospital was negligent in its supervision of the doctor during the 30 years he practiced there. In the latest suits, the men say Reardon fondled and photographed them in his private St. Francis office during the 1970s or early 1980s. One suit claims Reardon took as many as 1,000 "sexualized" pictures of the plaintiff, both alone and posed with his three brothers. The lawsuits assert that St. Francis bears responsibility for the abuse because it failed to properly supervise Dr. Reardon, who was an employee of the hospital. At least 80 people so far have come forward with allegations of sexual molestation by Dr. Reardon during the time that he was employed by St. Francis Hospital.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Connecticut Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations

James Sabatini — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:24:42 GMT

Connecticut law requires that a medical malpractice lawsuit be initiated within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered. The law also requires that it be initiated within three years from the date of the act or omission complained of (CGS § 52-584). (The courts typically refer to the two year period as the statute of limitation and the three year limit as the statute of repose). Thus, a person who believes he has been injured because of medical malpractice must initiate the lawsuit within three years of the act of malpractice even if he does not discover and could not have reasonably discovered the injury and its link to the alleged malpractice until more than three years have passed.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.

Many Injured In Train Collision

James Sabatini — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:59:17 GMT

At least five Amtrak crew members were critically or seriously injured Friday when their train collided with a freight train traveling on the same track. About 100 or 150 passengers have been injured in this train collision in Chicago. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

Nursing Home CEO Funds Record Label, But What About The Nursing Homes

James Sabatini — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:31:46 GMT

In late 2005, Haven Healthcare CEO Raymond Termini decided to pursue a longtime dream: He launched a record label in Nashville to produce both little-known and established country musicians. Within in a few months, the company gets the cash to sign major artists such as Travis Tritt. Back in Connecticut, residents of his nursing home in Jewett City spent a cold December night. After months of not being paid, the company that supplied heating oil to the nursing home had suspended deliveries. Is there a connection between the financial problems at the Connecticut nuring homes and the record company?

Plainfield Teen Beaten In Racial Attack

James Sabatini — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:28:18 GMT

In Plainfield, Connecticut, a sixteen year old teen was beaten and subjected to racial slurs. The victim, sixteen-year old Dashawn Williams has not been to school in three weeks. He says he was beat up at the bus stop by kids calling him the n-word. The attack took place early in the morning at a school bus stop. The beating landed the teen in the hospital with cuts and a concussion. The local police are investigating. There have been no arrests.

Gillette Wal-Mart Sued for Slip and Fall

Shannon Weidemann — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:12:20 GMT

A Campbell County man fell in a local Wal-Mart store in 2005 and injured his knee. He filed a premises liability lawsuit against the company in court last week. His lawyer argues that he reinjured a knee that has been operated on previously.

Dick Baker was shopping at the store Feb. 20, 2005, when the accident happened. He walked around the end of an aisle, stepped into a pool of water caused by a leaking roof and fell, according to court documents. The spot was not marked off with warning signs.

The fall caused the man nerve damage and chronic pain. The lawsuit is asking for an unnamed amount of damages. Wal-Mart has not commented on the case.

If you would like to read more about slip and fall, please visit InjuryBoard's Property Owner's Liability information page.

New Haven Police Officer in Single Car Accident

Shannon Weidemann — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:03:31 GMT

A New Haven police officer was in a single car accident and failed to report the accident to the department. After the crash he reported that he had a flat tire and needed to be towed. Later information showed that he was involved in a car accident. It is against department policy to not report a car accident. He was off duty at the time of the accident and it involved his personal vehicle.

The investigation determined that the accident was not properly reported, a violation of state statute and department rules, according to the agreement. The accident occurred during the 30-day period when Queiroga had been suspended after being convicted of breach of peace in connection with an altercation in New Haven in January.
DiCarlo then determined that the matter should be presented to the Police Commission for consideration of discipline. The chief can only discipline up to three days.

The police officer was suspended for 10 days without pay for his actions. The police officer has been on the force since 2004.

If you would like to learn more about car accidents, please visit InjuryBoard's Car Accident information page.