Pennsylvania Injury Attorneys Blog

CNN.com recently posted an online article about a growing concern of nearly anyone who has visited a hospital emergency room: extended wait times that can lead to suffering and possible fatalities.

The reporter detailed the heart-wrenching story of a couple who brought their 2-year-old daughter to a California emergency room and were forced to wait nearly 5 hours before being seen, despite their constant complaints and the quick decline of their daughter’s health. By the time they were seen it was too late: what had been initially diagnosed by the triage nurse in the ER as a virus and a rash turned out to be the 2-year-old’s liver failing due to a strep A infection. After being transferred to 2 other hospitals, the child was able to be saved, but lack of oxygen to her limbs required surgeons to amputate her left hand, some fingers on her right hand, and both legs below the knees.

The article notes that according to a report from the Government Accountability Office in 2009, ER wait times continue to increase. The report says that the average wait time to see a physician is more than double the recommended wait time in some cases. Research done by Press Ganey Associates, a group that works with health care organizations to improve clinical outcomes, found that in 2009, patients waited on average for six hours in emergency rooms. Nearly 400,000 patients waited 24 hours or more.

When a doctor tells us that we need surgery, we usually don’t question his or her judgment, especially if the procedure involves a medical device that can help supplement the function of our heart. But a recent article on CNN Health recently reported that 20% of patients who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, or ICD (a device that produces electrical impulses to regulate heartbeats and prevent life-threatening arrhythmias), were not good candidates to receive the device.

A study of more than 111,000 patients who received ICD implants between 2006 and 2009 was conducted by researchers at Duke University. It was discovered that more than 25,000 of those patients did not meet evidence-based criteria for receiving the ICD.

Physicians and surgeons often recommend ICDs for patients who are at high risk for a cardiac arrest or life-threatening arrhythmia, but have not yet suffered from these symptoms. But according to Dr. Robert Michler, chairman of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Montefiore-Einstein Heart Center, “Doctors are well-intentioned, but not all doctors should be determining the use of what is a very sophisticated therapy.”

Winters in Pennsylvania often mean snow days for kids. Once the morning news reports that schools are closed, it’s time for kids to hit the hills with their sleds.

Although a snow day full of sledding can be fun, Parenting.com reports that more than 20,000 children are treated each year for sledding-related injuries and some of those injuries can be serious. So here are a few tips to remind your children before they hit the slopes.

Make sure the hill and the landing space at the bottom of it is clear of obstacles. Lara McKenzie, Ph.D., principal investigator at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, OH, says, “The vast majority of injuries, we found, are caused by collisions.” Obstacles include trees, fences, and utility poles. Dr. McKenzie adds that fractures were twice as likely to result from banging into something than from falling off a sled.

By now you’ve probably heard the news about the accident that occurred on Tuesday at Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort in Maine that left eight people injured and more than 150 people trapped on a lift when it derailed. CNN.com has reported that two state inspectors think wind played a “contributing role”, although they are still investigating other potential factors.

In addition to the high winds, News.com.au is reporting that the ski resort has admitted that it knew there was a problem with the lift just before the accident occurred. The lift had been closed earlier in the day by lift operators, but then re-opened to accommodate the holiday and winter season crowds.

But when a maintenance request was called in, mechanics could see that the cables that connect the tower chairlifts were working their way out of their normal position. Mechanics began to operate the lift slowly in an attempt to help those who were already on the lift to get off. When the cables slipped off their track entirely, five chairs tumbled into the snow below.

There are some important recalls that have been announced over the past few weeks that we would like to bring to your attention.

Drop Side Cribs Banned: On Dec. 15 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to ban the manufacture, sale, and resale of drop-side cribs in an effort to prevent child injuries and deaths. Over the past few years, more than 30 infant deaths have been attributed to drop-side cribs. This style of crib was thought to be convenient for parents who could slide one side down so they didn’t have to reach as far to pick up their babies. However, the drop side can become partially detached, creating a space where a child could become stuck. Loose gates and rails on drop-side cribs have been associated with 32 suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. The CPSC has initiated new standards that manufacturers must comply with by June 2011. Hotels and childcare centers that use drop-side cribs will have a year to replace them.

Rolaids Recall: Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest health products company, withdrew 13 million packages of Rolaids soft chews on Dec. 9 after consumers reported finding metal and wood particles in the antacid tablets. Bloomberg News (Bloomberg.com) reported that the affected products include Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Rolaids Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, and Rolaids Multi-Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews. Although the risk of serious health effects are “remote”, Johnson & Johnson advised consumers who have purchased these products to stop using them. Rolaids tablets were among 500 lots of drugs Johnson & Johnson pulled from shelves in January because of possible contamination with a wood chemical used in shipping and packing materials. That recall included Motrin and Tylenol and was expanded in June after consumers complained of a musty odor coming from some products, as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea from consumers who used the products.

Automotive News is reporting that Mazda has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it will recall over 200,000 Mazda3 and Mazda5 models due to faulty power-assist steering pumps and pipes. The recall announcement comes two months after NHTSA launched an investigation into 33 complaints of power steering failures. In three cases, the loss of steering control led to an auto accident that could have been prevented. Mazda stated that the recall affects all 2007-2009 models of Mazda3 and Mazda5 automobiles manufactured between April 2007 and November 2008.

If you or a loved one has experienced the fault of Mazda, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering. O’Connor Law can help. Call us for a free consultation and review of your case at 1 (800) 518-4LAW (1 (800) 518-4529) or visit our website www.oconnorlaw.com. Offices located Frackville, Allentown, Bala Cynwyd, Bloomsburg, Hazleton, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Pittsburgh, Reading, Scranton, Stroudsburg, Sunbury, Wilkes-Barre, and Williamsport.

O’Connor Law has announced the appointment of the newest member for the law firm, Beth A. Dodson.

Dodson earned her Juris Doctor degree from the prestigious Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA, where she graduated magna cum laude. While at Duquesne, she was a member of the Duquesne Law Review and wrote for Juris magazine.

Dodson obtained her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Elizabethtown College, where she majored in Political Science with a concentration in Political Philosophy. Dodson was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha and the Elizabethtown Women’s Varsity Volleyball team.

O’Connor Law has announced the appointment of the newest member of the law firm, Steven O. Spahr.

Mr. Spahr has over 16 years of workers’ compensation and litigation experience.

Mr. Spahr earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from the Western New England College of Law, Springfield, MA.

It is with great pride that the attorneys at O’Connor Law, LLC announce that Attorney David A. Miller has been selected as a Pennsylvania Rising Star in the field of personal injury.

Pennsylvania Rising Stars, as published in the June 2010 edition of the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazines, represent the top 2.5% of attorneys across the state. To be eligible for selection as a Rising Star, an attorney must be age 40 or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less.

Rising Stars recognize the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state. The Pennsylvania Rising Stars for 2010 were selected from the results of an extensive nomination and polling process conducted by Law & Politics and published in the June 2010 issue of Philadelphia magazine and in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers – Rising Stars Edition. This is Miller’s second year to make the Rising Stars list.

For the seventh year in a row, Michael J. O’Connor, founder of O’Connor Law, was selected and named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in the field of workers’ compensation law as published in the June 2010 edition of Philadelphia Magazine as well as the recent edition of Super Lawyers magazine.

In addition to Mr. O’Connor, Attorney Paul J. Duffalo was named to the list this year.

Attorneys named Super Lawyers are considered to be the top five percent of attorneys in each state, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics. O’Connor was named a Super Lawyer in 2004 and each year following, making this his seventh year in a row to top the list of workers’ compensation attorneys in Pennsylvania. This is Duffalo’s third year to make the list.