Canada Issues IVC Filter Warning After Numerous Reports of Complications

IVC filter warning tells of defective blood clot prevention product

At the end of last month, Health Canada issued an updated IVC filter warning for physicians and patients.

After receiving 121 reports of severe problems associated with IVC filters as of June 6, the Canadian government’s public health department released updated information regarding the safety of these devices.

IVC Filter Warning: Blood Clot Filters Can Cause Harm

IVC (inferior vena cava) filters are tiny, spider-like wire filters used to prevent pulmonary embolism by catching blood clots that travel from the legs toward the lungs. Unfortunately, the FDA has received over 900 reports of complications. IVC filters can break apart, sending small metal fragments throughout the body. This can result in serious injury or death.

The longer the IVC filter remains in place, the greater the risk of complication.  […]

Jeep that Killed Actor Anton Yelchin was Under Recall

What may appear to be a freak accident may actually be the result of a widespread safety problem that has caused hundreds of crashes across the United States in recent months.

The vehicle that killed actor Anton Yelchin, 27, was part of a safety recall issued two months ago. Yelchin was crushed to death when his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled backward down his driveway and pinned him against a fence.

Yelchin’s Jeep was included in a recall that was issued after hundreds of similar – but nonfatal – accidents were reported. Due to a gear shift problem, drivers can mistakenly believe their car is in park, when it is actually in drive or neutral. The confusion stems from a monostable gear shift lever, which rests in a default position, unlike the traditional gear shift, which moves to a different position for each gear. […]

Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million in cancer lawsuit

Baby powder found to contain cancer-causing ingredient, talcum powder

A Missouri jury has awarded $72 million to the family of Jacqueline Fox, a woman who died of ovarian cancer she says was caused by decades of using Johnson’s baby powder, which contains talc.

A pathologist found that Fox’s ovaries showed talc inflammation which later turned to cancer. Jacqueline Fox was one of more than 1000 people who filed suit against Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn customers about the dangers associated with talcum powder, but her case was the first to result in monetary compensation.

It is especially alarming that such a ubiquitous household product can be found to contain cancer-causing ingredients. But, this isn’t the first time Johnson & Johnson has come under scrutiny for the safety of their products.  Following consumer demands and bad press, […]

Is there a recall on your car? Check to be sure.

Is your car or truck safe to drive? Are you sure?

Many people who are hurt or killed by an automotive defect weren’t aware that their vehicle was under recall. Checking to see if your vehicle has been recalled is easy, it often costs nothing to have the defect fixed, and doing so can save your life and the lives of your loved ones.

The Takata airbag recall, the most extensive in U.S. automotive history, is of particular concern due to a large number of vehicles affected and the severity of the injuries caused by the defect. The Takata airbags in question have inflators made with ammonium nitrate, a propellant that can become unstable and cause the inflator to rupture, sending metal shards into the cabin. Ten people (nine in the U.S.) have been killed and more than 100 have been injured this way. […]

Volkswagen Recall Reveals Scam, Hurts Germany’s Reputation

Last week, we heard yet another story of a major automaker intentionally deceiving the public and the government.

Volkswagen has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to recall nearly half a million diesel powered vehicles in the U.S. due to  a software designed to cheat emissions tests. The software in the vehicles detects when an emissions test is being performed, and will reduce smog emissions during the test, making the car appear to be more environmentally friendly than it actually is. During normal driving time, the vehicles can emit up to 40 times the amount of nitrous oxide allowed by the Clean Air Act.

For a year, VW claimed that this discrepancy was the result of technical errors, but last week they admitted that the software was designed to intentionally cheat the tests.

Affected models include: diesel versions of the Jetta, […]