Pregnant woman are warned not to use the migraine drug valproate sodium as it could result in lower IQ scores in their child, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The results of a recent study showed that children exposed to valproate products in the...
Month: May 2013
PBDE Exposure Linked to Lower IQ, Hyperactivity
Some intelligence and behavioral problems in young children may actually be caused by controversial fire retardant chemicals used in products that are supposed to protect kids, according to a new study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting. ...
Robot Doctors Make Remote Visits to Patients
Technology is rapidly changing the medical industry as doctors are beginning to make remote visits to patients in ICUs and other facilities via robots run by PCs or iPads, according to a recent article in USA Today. These technological overhauls are being used to...
Common Antibacterial Chemical Under FDA Review
A popular anitbacterial chemical found in hundreds of everyday products is under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over concern for its safety. Studies of triclosan - found in houshold antibacterial products from toothpaste to toys - suggest that the...
Routine PSA Testing No Longer Recommended
The American Urological Association has reversed its stance on PSA testing for prostate cancer, no longer recommending routine testing for men due to harmful side effects. Men under 55 should not get routinely screened with a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, and...
“Never Events” Continue at Alarming Rates
Serious medical errors known as "never events" should never occur with proper vigilance by medical staff and surgeons, but even the most egregious errors - including operating on the wrong side of a brain - still happen more often than you might think. In 2010, the...
The #1 Cause of Medical Malpractice Claims
The most common cause of paid claims for malpractice at 28.6 percent is making errors in diagnosis, not overdoses or even surgical mistakes, according to a recent study. More than 100,000 payments for diagnostic error occurred from 1986 to 2010, with these errors...
Drug Overdoses Lead Accidental Deaths in Ohio
Drug overdoses continue to increase at record-high rates throughout the state of Ohio, causing about one Ohioan to die every five hours in 2011, according to figures released by the state Department of Health. Prescription painkillers and a worsening...
Denial Over Need for Long-Term Medical Care
Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care, with two-thirds of people over 40 having done little to no planning, according to a new poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Government figures show nearly 7 in 10 Americans will...
Skin Cancers Increase Risk of Other Cancers
People who have had common skin cancers, even those not typically treated with radiation or chemotherapy, may be at an increased risk of getting cancer again in their life, according to a new study. The included more than 150,000 people who were followed for...