Aug
2
2010
Medical Malpractise By admin | No comments yet

Accutane Users Display Elevated Levels of Cholesterol and Triglycerides

A study of patients taking the acne drug Accutane shows that Accutane is worse for the heart than originally thought. The study found that an abnormally high percentage of individuals taking the drug exhibited elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. More than one in ten study participants also displayed abnormal liver tests.

The study, published by Archives of Dermatology in 2006, involved an analysis of the laboratory tests of 13,722 patients who were members of the Kaiser Permanente health plan in California. The patients studied had received Accutane treatment between March of 1995 and September of 2002. All patients involved in the analysis were between the ages of 13 and 50.

Initial findings of the study indicated that 44 percent of patients developed elevated levels of triglycerides while taking the drug. Additionally, 31 percent of the patients displayed elevated cholesterol levels. These percentages are significantly higher than those referenced in the original package insert. In addition to detecting elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels, the study found that 11 percent of patients exhibited high levels of liver enzymes. Lab tests for these patients were normal prior to taking Accutane.

Accutane is the brand name for isotretinoin, which is prescribed as an aggressive treatment for severe acne. The drug has been linked to a host of physical and mental health disorders, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s diseases, adult depression, and birth defects in infants whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy. Because of the health risks associated with Accutane use,  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  required patients and doctors to document their use of the drug in a drug registry maintained by the FDA.

While abnormally high cholesterol and triglyceride levels do not necessarily mean that a patient is destined to have a heart attack, such elevations can be a contributing factor to heart disease. The study highlights the importance of monitoring levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, particularly in patients currently taking Accutane. The long term effects of taking Accutane are not explored by the study, but lab results did indicate that the cholesterol and triglyceride levels returned to normal in the majority of patients after use of the drug was discontinued.

This article should not be construed as legal advice. It was not written by an attorney.

If you are interested in speaking with an Accutane lawyer please contact the law firm of Goldberg & Osborne in Phoenix, AZ.

Jun
25
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 3 comments

Dietary Supplement Regulations

How do you know that the dietary supplements that you consume are safe? All dietary supplements are not created equal. This is why the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) was signed into law. This act, established in October 1994 by President Clinton makes it mandatory that the manufacturer of a dietary supplement ensures that the supplement is safe before marketing it. DSHEA amended the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic act to define the term dietary supplement, and to establish a separate regulatory agenda for dietary supplements.

Under this law a dietary supplement is defined as any product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. These supplements can take several forms such as pills, capsules, liquids, powders, or bars. Regardless of the form they take, DSHEA places dietary supplements under in a special category under the general umbrella of foods, as opposed to drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled as a dietary supplement. These supplements cannot be labeled as conventional food or sole item of a meal. Manufacturers must also make sure that product labels are truthful and not misleading. The label cannot claim that the supplement treats cures or prevents any specific disease.

In addition, under DSHEA, the manufacturer is expected to take full responsibility for ensuring that a dietary supplement is in compliance with DSHEA before marketing it. They are not required to get approval from the FDA before marketing a dietary supplement. However, if the manufacturer is intending to produce a dietary supplement with a “new dietary ingredient” they are required to notify the FDA. Under this law, a “new dietary ingredient” is one that was not marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement before October 15, 1994. The manufacturer must express to the FDA why the new dietary ingredient is safe for use in a dietary supplement.

This article is for informational use only and not intended as legal advice.

For a better understanding of dietary supplement regulations, visit the website of Searcy Law, serving the Tallahassee area.

Jun
25
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 2 comments

What is Workers’ Comp?

Workers’ comp is a shorter name for “workers’ compensation.” Workers’ compensation is a brand of law that effectively acts as insurance. If a worker gets injured on the job, he or she can file for workers’ compensation and possibly receive weekly payments to replace income lost due to the injury. In certain cases, these payments may even be made to family members of the worker if the worker dies in a work related incident or is permanently incapacitated as a result of the accident.

Agreeing to accept workers’ compensation usually exists as a legal trade-off. As part of the agreement, the worker typically relinquishes his or her right to sue the employer for damages. These include punitive damages that are not solely related to a loss of income.

However, there is one main benefit that filing for workers’ compensation entails. The worker does not need to prove that the employer acted negligently and that negligence caused the injury. So while it is possible to win less money in a workers’ compensation case, only having to prove that an injury took place while on the job may be easier than proving the employer acted negligently in causing the injury.

Loss of income isn’t the only thing workers’ compensation typically covers. Fore one, the compensation will more than likely cover medical bills resulting from surgery and treatment related to the work place injury. During the recovery from the injury, the worker will typically receive two-thirds of his or her lost income. However, if the worker is permanently injured, the compensation may also cover the cost of vocational rehabilitation. This vocational rehabilitation will allow the worker to learn a new skill so he or she can start a new career.

Federal workers’ compensation laws are only likely to affect federal workers and those who work in interstate commerce. State laws regarding workers’ compensation can vary greatly. This is why if you are considering filing, you should contact an attorney with strong knowledge of these state laws to give you the best advice on what to do.

Disclaimer: The preceding article is not meant as sound legal advice, and is only provided for informational purposes.

If you have not received the workers compensation that you deserve after an injury, contact Wurtzel Law in NYC, New York.

May
30
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 1 comment

Texas Crime Statistics

Crimes in Texas are increasing every day. Violent crime is occuring at every 4 minutes. In totality, crime of any type occurring every 29 seconds. This is really high and needs a consideration. In the year 2008 the Texas Department of Public Safety estimates there were a total of 1,098,428 crime offenses across the entire state, down 1.2 percent from 2007. Of this number, 11 percent were violent crimes with 89 percent being property crimes. These numbers do not include arson statistics, in which there were 6,363 cases reported for the same year, an increase of 6.0 percent from 2007.

Violent Crimes
Violent crimes are generally defined as crimes that involve a confrontation between two individuals – a perpetrator and a victim. In Texas in 2008, there were 123,621 reported violent crimes. This was a slight increase of 1.2 percent in number from the previous year’s reported data. Broken down by type, the violent crimes were 62 percent aggravated assault, 31 percent robbery, 6 percent rape, and 1 percent murder.

Property Crimes
There were an estimated 969,807 reported property crimes in Texas in 2008, down 1.5 percent from 2007. This total is 67 percent theft, 24 percent burglary and 9 percent motor vehicle theft. In terms of worth these numbers represent $2,027,030,439 worth of stolen property value.

Frequency
The Texas Department of Public Safety broke all of the data down based on a clock, to show how frequently the crimes occur on average in Texas. For property crimes, there is one larceny-theft every 48 seconds, one burglary every 2 minutes, and one motor vehicle theft every 6 minutes. This makes one property crime occurring every 33 seconds. For violent crimes, there is one aggravated assaults every 7 minutes, one robbery every 14 minutes, one rape every 1 hour, and one murder every 6 hours and 23 minutes. This means one violent crime occurs every 4 minutes. In total, these numbers show a crime of some type occurring every 29 seconds. These numbers should only be seen as an aggregate representation of data, and do not mean that these crimes actually occur with this consistency or frequency.

This article is not legal advice and there are no claims made for the completeness, relevance, adequacy or accuracy of the information presented. All data and statistics listed in this article are from the 2008 Crime in Texas Report published by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

For more information on professional Criminal Defense Attorneys, visit the Law Offices of Will & Will.

May
30
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 4 comments

Understanding the Context of the Insurance Law

Insurance law concerns itself with the laws surrounding two aspects of the insurance business— regulation of the business of insurance and the regulation of claim handling.

In the United States, all insurance companies, besides having to comply with all the laws concerning all types of businesses also have to conform to regulations set by the State on entities engaged in the business of insurance.

Business Insurance Regulations

Regulation of the business of insurance is usually done by various States through their respective regulatory agencies. These agencies are headed by an Insurance Commissioner and are in charge of coming up with the administrative guidelines insurance companies have to comply with and to implement and execute the State’s law on insurance. Federal law recognizes the authority of these regulatory agencies and has exempted them from federal regulation in most cases.

Insurance Regulation Objectives

The aim of regulation is to ensure that insurance companies are adequately capitalized and solvent and involves rules governing capitalization, reserve policies, rates and other “back office” processes.

The regulations these State agencies are charged with implementing help protect the policy holder (also known as the insured) against so-called bad faith claims on the insurer’s part. A bad faith action happens when the insurer denies a claim which appears valid on the face of the insurance contract; when the insurer refuses to pay the proceeds of the insurance policy on a valid claim for an unreasonable period of time; and when the insurer lays the burden of proof on the insured, a case which often happens when the insurer is unable to prove his claim.

These laws also see to it that premiums paid to insurance companies are not unduly high or fixed, thus creating an unfair competitive environment for those seeking insurance, and that the insurance contracts and policies issued by insurance companies meet minimum standards set by State or Federal law.

The business of insurance has been in existence since the 17th and 18th centuries although these were limited to inuring against the loss of property (homes in particular). It was only in the 20th century when insurance policies were offered for health, life, and automobiles.

This article does not intend to give any legal advice. For further reading, visit the site of Tampa insurance lawyers at Shavitz Law.

May
30
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 1 comment

How to Handle a Denial of Claim

Generally, a car accident claim is initiated by an accident. If you are involved in an accident, it is important that you try to learn the things that you need to do at the site of the accident. First you must immediately inform your insurance carrier regarding the accident and start filing a claim. After submitting your claim, a claims adjuster will notify you. A claims adjuster is the person tasked by the insurance company to deal with policy holders’ claims. He will either give you a call or write you a letter or an email. Afterwards he will check your policy to find out which types of coverage you are entitled to, deductibles, and any coverage limits that may impact your claim.

Standards of Claim Assessment

If your claim is simple wherein the liability is not an issue, the damage was negligible and minor or no medical treatment was required, the claims adjuster may let you obtain an estimate for repairs before sending you a check. The insurance company will require you to complete some documents but personally meeting the claims adjuster is often unnecessary. If your claim is more complex where the liability is still being argued, you have inadequate coverage in your policy or you disagree with the settlement offered by your claims adjuster, then the negotiation process is likely to be prolonged.

In Case of Car Accident Claims Denial

There are a number of possible reasons for the denial of a claim. In most cases it is related with the limits in the policy holder’s coverage. If your claim was denied, you can find out the reason in the denial letter and you can assess whether the reason is lawful or not. If you think the action was unfair then you can bring your case to court. Do not wait too long before taking an action or else you might lose your chance to acquire compensation for the injuries and losses you incurred in the accident. Every state has a different statute concerning the time limit for filing a lawsuit. In majority of the states, the limitation to file a personal injury claim is 2 – 3 years. You can ask your car accident attorney for further information.

This article does not intend to give any legal advice. Please go and visit Injury Attorneys Kenneth J. Allen Associates to know about denial of claims. Helping residents in Illinois and Indiana.

May
30
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 1 comment

Introduction to Probate and Wills

How Does a Probate Work?

The course of action taken in governing the properties of a departed individual is referred to as probate. The process is signified by solving every claim and dispensing out the departed individuals’ assets as stated in the legal will. The will has to be legalized in a court of law before it is interpreted by the probate. The duties of the probate include reading and understanding the will given by the late. He or she is tasked to choose and elect an executor to represent the properties. The person also decides the welfares of the recipients and others who may perhaps have entitlements alongside the assets.

The direction of legal features following the demise of a person is handled by a probate lawyer. They are usually very busy especially the time after the death. Around this time is when the authentication of any will is carried out. The properties of the departed are then confirmed and any arrears owed to various people are settled. The attorney is then supposed to determine the rightful heirs and dispense the remaining resources to them in accordance to the will. It is important to note that this process may extend over a long period of time.

How Do Wills Work?

Upon the demise of an author of a will, a probate process is conducted at that particular county where the author was at the time of his or her death. In a case whereby a deceased owns property in another country, then the probate processes begin in that particular country. Properties that can not be transferred to heirs or spouses are included in the probate process. There are instances whereby a deceased has not left behind a will or named any beneficiaries to his property in which the courts decide on right of ownership of the family members. This is important as it solves disputes of property that may arise.

Should I Hire a Probate Lawyer?

It is vital to hire a lawyer to guide you through the probate process. This helps in solving disputes that may arise during the probate process. An attorney offers you advice on how to make a realistic plan that is attainable, however they normally do not dictate on the course of action.
This article is for information purposes only and not a legal advice.

If you are looking for more information on trust and wills, the website of Fort Lauderdale Attorney at Law Adrian Philip Thomas provides more reading and information.

May
30
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 2 comments

How Criminal Attorney Charge Their Clients

When it comes to hiring a lawyer in a criminal matter, you should not make decisions that could impact you for the rest of your life based upon financial considerations.  Financial arrangements can be made: your focus needs to be on defending yourself to the best of your abilities. There are a variety of ways that criminal attorneys charge their clients. The list of common ways a majority of attorneys charge for their services are hourly fees, contingency fees, and flat fees. This article will briefly address each way that attorneys charge clients, and will then discuss the ways in which criminal attorneys most commonly charge their clients.

Hourly Fees

The way in which most attorneys bill their clients is through hourly fees. Criminal attorneys in particular typically charge their clients using hourly fees. Usually a lawyer creates a contract that the client signs and the client agree to pay a set fee for the attorneys’ services. Hourly fees vary greatly, even among criminal attorneys. Some of the most important factors that determine fees are geographic location, type of specific law practice, and experience. To keep track of his or her time, typically an attorney uses a sort of computer billing program to keep an ethical log of his or her hours. Then, the attorney adds these hours up and bills the client for his or her time spent working on a certain case.

Contingency Fees

Contingency fees refer to a type of fee in which an attorney receives a certain percentage of the proceeds won in a case. Typically only personal injury lawyers use contingency fees as the way they bill clients. A client only needs to pay a fee usually if he or she was successful in winning the legal case at hand.

Flat Fees

Flat fees are usually assigned for drunken driving cases. Typically the fee is about $1,500. This type of billing is dissuaded since attorneys can end up working on the case for only a very brief time or very long time.

In general, a criminal attorney charges their clients on hourly basis for his/her services. On complex cases, fees can easily build up if expert witnesses need to be used. Expert witnesses can add on extra dollars for a single case. Felony cases can cost anywhere from $25,000 to $50,000, while misdemeanor cases usually cost around $1,500 to $5,000. When seeking a criminal attorney, be sure to read all contracts very carefully so you know what you are paying for.

This article is not legal advice or factual figures. It is anticipated for informational and educational use.

Further Legal Reading: The Law Offices of Michael Lowe, Dallas Justice, are available to help you with your criminal defense case.

May
19
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 3 comments

Recalling Details May Worsen PTSD

People who can recall a traumatic event may be at greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than those with no recall of the event. Researchers who studied individuals involved in a serious car accident found that people who could remember the car accident were significantly more likely to develop PTSD-like symptoms than those who did not recall it.

This leads some experts to conclude that memory of a traumatic event is positively associated with the risk for development of PTSD. People who suffer from PTSD often re-experience the past trauma through nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive recollections. The more they remember, the more vivid these re-experiences may be.

No one who has experienced a traumatic event ‘chooses’ whether or not to recall the details of an experience (it either happens or is prevented from happening as a result of head injury). Because of this, those who live through harrowing, life-sparing accidents and survive with their memories intact are especially at risk for PTSD.

Many people who develop PTSD get better after time, but about 1 out of 3 people with PTSD may continue to have some symptoms. Even if you continue to have symptoms, treatment can help you cope. Your symptoms don’t have to interfere with your everyday activities, work, and relationships.

If you think you may have PTSD, it’s vital that you see a mental health professional specifically trained to assess psychological problems for a formal PTSD evaluation.

For more information about your rights as a Jones Act maritime claimant—including recovering costs for medical or mental health treatments—contact the experienced offshore injury attorneys at Gordon, Elias & Seely, L.L.P. for a FREE consultation today at 800-773-6770.

Feb
25
2010
Uncategorized By admin | 6 comments

The Risk of Tax Evasion

One of the most damaging crimes someone can commit for themselves is tax evasion. Many people cheat a little on their taxes, while others might hide large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. However people try to hide their income, there is likely to be a significant risk in not reporting your income to federal and state revenue services. It is treated tantamount to stealing and will almost always result in conviction if caught.

The Difference Between Avoidance and Evasion

First, it is important to draw a line for anyone who is not sure whether that deduction they took will land them in hot water. Tax avoidance is when someone usesx the tax structure to their advantage to make legal deductions to their tax burden.

On the other hand, when someone uses illegal means to avoid paying taxes, they are practicing tax evasion – which insinuates that they willingly tried not to pay taxes. In many cases, there is a further line between those who mistakenly misfile their taxes and those that take specific actions to avoid paying their taxes.

The Facts About Tax Evasion

Every year, the United States government estimates that more than $345 billion (2007) is not paid by those who owe it to the federal government. That is equal to about 14% of the total gross revenue of the United States and is thus a very serious issue, punishable with prison time if severe enough. Some of the most famous tax evaders are the law breakers who make a great deal of money through illegal channels. The law still requires that all income be reported, so these individuals are often charged with tax evasion and can spend many years in jail as a result.

Anyone who fails to file a return in the United States will owe a percentage penalty for their late payment. Those that do not pay for prolonged periods of time will still be subject to repayment, but may also be subject to jail time for the avoidance. Most of these cases are handled in civil court, but this can elevate when illegal actions are taken to avoid taxes.

This article is not intended to provide legal advice. If you need assistance with a tax evasion case, contact a lawyer immediately.

Learn more about handling a tax evasion case with the help of Will & Will LLP – Riverside, CA criminal defense attorneys.

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