The FDA announced on Monday, 2/29 that it will recommend a “black box warning” label for the Essure permanent birth control device. According to the FDA website, a black box warning label is “designed to call attention to serious or life-threatening risks” associated with a prescription drug or medical device. The FDA also instructed Essure manufacturer Bayer Pharmaceuticals to conduct additional studies in order to better understand the risks of prescribing this permanent contraception device…
FDA’s Black Box Warning Labels Essure as Dangerous Device 
Mar09
Millions of Children in the United States are Exposed to Lead 
Mar04
Lead paint poisoning has been an epidemic in Baltimore. According to the CDC, 4 million homes in the U.S. have children who are being exposed to lead. No safe level of lead has been defined. Children are more likely to ingest lead than adults, and are more vulnerable to the effects of lead. Children who have excessive hand to mouth activity, and put toys, paint chips, dust, or soil in their mouths are at even…
HIE and Cerebral Palsy Impact Thousands of Infants Every Year 
Mar03
Birth injuries and birth trauma are far too common in the United States. Every year, thousands of infants will be born with life-threatening conditions that are the result of a medical mistake by a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional. The most serious birth injuries are caused when a lack of oxygen damages a child’s brain. At the Yost Legal Group, our legal team wants to educate people about the dangers of these injuries, as…
Common Bile Duct Injuries Can Have Devastating Consequences 
Feb26
A healthy gallbladder stores bile, which is produced in the liver, and releases the bile into the small intestine to help in the digestion of food. Gallstones are small, hard, gravel-like deposits that can form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones cause pain, inflammation, infection, and blockages of the tubes, called bile ducts, which enter and exit the gallbladder. Gallstones are the most common cause of gallbladder surgery. The surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder is called…
Learn the Facts About Environmental Racism 
Feb25
The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is a federal agency that protects the health and welfare of Americans and the environment. The Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) is a part of the EPA which is supposed to protect citizens from environmental racism by preventing states, local governments and private companies from discriminating based on race or ethnicity. One of the ways a government can discriminate and engage in environmental racism is by placing hazardous waste sites…
Understanding Kernicterus, a form of Brain Damage that occurs in Newborns as a Result of Jaundice 
Feb18
Many babies are born with the yellow-tinted eyes and skin indicative of jaundice. Jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin, which is the yellow substance created as the body rids itself of old red blood cells. The yellow tint of jaundice can be harder to see in babies with darker skin color. The best way to measure bilirubin is to take a small blood sample from a baby’s heel. If the bilirubin level is…
Children Exposed To Lead Are More Likely To Commit Violent Crimes 
Feb16
Lead poisoning has been known for decades to cause brain damage and new research shows that lead poisoning is linked to violent crime. Lead is a toxin that damages the parts of the brain that control impulses, emotions, and a person’s ability to pay attention. Studies from the University of Cincinnati and the University of Pittsburgh found that children exposed to lead are more likely to commit violent crimes as adults because of brain damage…
Manufacturers of Xarelto are Being Investigated for their Marketing Strategies 
Feb05
Drug companies Janssen Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and Bayer Healthcare are being investigated by attorneys for their marketing strategies. For the blood-thinning drug Xarelto (rivaroxaban), these strategies were aimed at putting profits over safety. Even though Xarelto was said to surpass all other drugs of its kind in effectiveness, safety and ease of use, it turned out to be life-threatening for many users. Xarelto, approved by the FDA in 2011, was prescribed…
Residents of Flint, MI Claim “Environmental Racism” Factored into Water Contamination Crisis 
Feb05
Many residents of Flint, Michigan believe that state and city officials should have responded faster to address the widespread lead contamination of the city’s water supply. Many residents and advocacy organizations are claiming that the state’s response to this crisis was delayed because of “environmental racism.” The population of Flint, MI is 57% African-American, and more than 41% of its residents live below the national poverty line. Advocates are speaking out and claiming that because…
FDA Issues Safety Warning About Medicinal Clay Product Due to Elevated Levels of Lead 
Feb04
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to avoid “Bentonite Me Baby” by Alikay Naturals due to a risk of lead poisoning. “Bentonite Me Baby” is marketed as medicinal clay that can be ingested or applied topically for the treatment of several conditions. However, safety testing of this product revealed that that “Bentonite Me Baby” tested positive for elevated levels of lead. Read more about this product warning here.
