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Friday, February 22, 2013

90 Over-Used Medical Tests and Treatments Considered Unnecessary and Sometimes Dangerous


The United States health care system, led by seventeen groups including The American Academy of Family Physicians have recently added 90 more common tests and procedures, bringing the total to 135, that are frequently ordered unnecessarily and can even cause further harm and injury on a patient.

Examples of some of these 90 procedures include: CT scans for minor headaches, C-section deliveries for healthy women before 39 weeks of pregnancy, using feeding tubes for dementia patients and ultrasound tests for ovarian cysts. 

The list of unnecessary tests and treatments also includes:
• Routinely performing annual PAP tests for women 30 to 65 years old.
• Prescribing antipsychotic medication as a first choice to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
• Prescribing testosterone in men with erectile dysfunction and normal testosterone levels.
• Screening healthy people — with no symptoms — for cancer using a PET/CT scan.
• Treating an elevated PSA in men with antibiotics when no other symptoms are present.
• Prescribing Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and other drugs known as benzodiazepines in older patients as a first choice for insomnia, agitation or delirium.
Spending more doesn't always translate to better quality.   This is proven true by the fact that Americans spend $2.7 Trillion each year on health care (more then any other developed nation) but the quality of care they receive often falls short.  Helping patients and doctors become more aware of these dubious procedures not only helps increase patient care, but could also contribute towards trimming America’s intimidating health care costs. 

"Twenty-five of the nation's leading medical specialty societies have now spoken up and shown leadership by identifying what tests and treatments are common to their profession, but not always beneficial," said Christine K. Cassel, M.D., president and CEO of the ABIM Foundation. "Millions of Americans are increasingly realizing that when it comes to health care, more is not necessarily better. Through these lists of tests and procedures, we hope to encourage conversations between physicians and patients about what care they truly need."

Thursday, February 21, 2013

3-D Printer can build you a new body part

We have all used printers to print a school paper, make copies of documents, print pictures of vacations and print coupons from a nearby retailers.  But what about printing a body part.  Not a picture of one but an actual new living body part?

Researches at Cornell University proven it possible by creating a replacement ear using a 3-D printer and injections of living cells. 

This historical, sci-fi like, accomplishment is the first step toward growing customized new ears for children born with malformed ones, or people who lose one to accident or disease.

It's part of the hot field of tissue regeneration, trying to regrow all kinds of body parts. Scientists hope using 3-D printing technology might offer a speedier method with more lifelike results.

Three-dimensional printers, which gradually layer materials to form shapes, are widely used in manufacturing. For medicine, Atala said the ear work is part of broader research that shows "the technology now is at the point where we can in fact print these 3-dimensional structures and they do become functional over time."

From a rotating image taken of a patient, the 3-D printer produces a soft mold of the ear. A special collagen gel that's full of cow cells is injected into the mold responsible for producing cartilage. Over the next few weeks, cartilage grows to replace the collagen. At three months, it appeared to be a flexible and workable outer ear. 

The days of an injured victim permanently losing an ear in a horrific car accident could soon be over.


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Driving Instructor dies in auto accident - Four Car Crash

Local police officers responding to a Port Jefferson car accident said that a driving school instructor was killed after veering into oncoming traffic, hitting three cars.

The Fitsgerald Driving School instructor, Leonard Sloan, was driving the school's Chevrolet Malibu when he crashed into the other vehicles on 347 (Nesconset Highway). He most likely had a heart attack, police said.

Leonard was traveling west when his vehicle struck three cars that were in the eastbound turning lanes waiting to turn left onto Davis Avenue.

There were no student drivers or passengers in the car at the time of the accident

He was taken to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, where he was pronounced dead.



Saturday, February 16, 2013

Blog Milestone - 25,000 views

Blogging milestones are good excuses to write a ‘greatest hits’ compilation.  Our 25,000th view (66% of which came in the last 12 months) was recorded earlier today.   In the event you missed some of our most popular posts here’s a chance to go back and read the best of 'The Injury/Product News Guide.'


10 - Historic 35 Car Pileup on LIE Leaves One Dead & 33 Injured


8 - How to get some of the $40 Million Skechers Shape Ups Lawsuit

7 - Ulster County teen killed in two-car crash in Newburgh


6 - Bethpage Toxic Plume close to contaminating drinking water supply


5 - A drunk driver causes a car accident every 48 seconds....


4 - Traumatic Brain Injury ("TBI") and the UNIQUE questions involved in representing TBI victims


3 - Drunk Driving caused more Deaths then War in Iraq/Afghanistan



2 - Slip/Trip and Fall Cases


1 - Car Accident Statistics in Long Beach



Overview of our Top Injury/Product Blogs:

To no surprise our blog posted about car accident statistics in Long Beach flew to the number one spot in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.  This entry was posted just one month prior to the storm and features an aerial picture of what Long Beach used to look like.  In the weeks after Sandy millions from around the world turned to the internet for news, pictures and information about the areas hardest hit by the storm.  Long Beach happened to be one of the hardest, if not the hardest hit areas by the storm.

80% of our top ten were posted within the past 12 months with #4 and #2 being before outside the last 12 months.

Drunk Driving continues to be a top concern among viewers with two Drunk Driving related posts featured in the top ten.


Posts with the most comments by our readers:

1 - FDA Investigates DePuy Hip Replacement Devices


2 - Slip/Trip and Fall Cases



We look forward to the next 25,000 views of family readers relying on our blog for a resource on product recalls, injury law news, tips and more.  If you are one of the 25,000 views....thank you.  If you are new to our blog...welcome.   

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

How Much Is My Case Worth?

If you have been seriously injured due to someone else's negligence you might be wondering - "How much is my personal injury case worth?

There is a very complex, scientific method to determine the value of a personal injury case.   This process involves measuring (including but not limited to) medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, etc.

In this featured video Daniel Buttafuoco, founding personal injury attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates, answers the question:  "How much is my injury case worth?"

Still have questions regarding your possible injury case?   Our attorneys are available 24/7.  Call 1-800-669-4878 or go to www.1800NowHurt.com

The Attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates have recovered over $250 Million for their clients.

Government Secretly Collects Information Every Time You Drive

Many motorists are unaware of the snitch that tags along for a ride every time they get behind the wheel.

This little snitch is in the form of a "black box" called an event data recorder.  Automakers have been quietly tucking the units, which automatically records the actions of drivers (tracking your seat belt use, speed, steering, braking and at least a dozen other bits of data, etc) and the responses of their vehicles in a continuous information loop, into most new cars for years.  In fact 96% of new cars already have them in addition to at least 150 million older automobiles.  

A new government proposed law will put these black boxes in every new car sold by September 1, 2014.   Although, american auto makers have been installing them in cars since the mid-1990s.

The idea behind the proposed black box data recorders is to collect information that can aid investigators in determining the causes of accidents and lead to safer cars.  However, those who advocate privacy claim that government regulators and automakers are spreading an intrusive technology without first putting in place policies to prevent misuse of the data stored.
Proponents of black boxes argue that they aren't all that intrusive. Maybe so, today. But technology never stands still. GPS in cellphones was originally advanced as a safety feature so callers to 9-1-1 could be quickly located. 

In recent years officials are using the stored information more and more in lawsuits, criminal cases and high-profile accidents.  For example: When Timothy Murray claimed he wasn't driving over the speed limit and that he was wearing his seat belt after he crashed a government-owned car last year officials turned to the Ford Crown Victoria's data recorder that told a different story: It showed the car was traveling more than 100 mph and Murray wasn't belted in.

In this way, the black boxes can nail liars trying to blame their cars for bad driving.



One thing is certain.  Black boxes are here to stay.

Saturday, February 09, 2013

Snowfall Totals from Winter Storm Nemo on Long Island

Long Island is covered in a blanket of white snow - what's the official tally for your town? Check the snowfall totals listed by town below.


  • Baiting Hollow - 26 inches
  • Bay Shore - 18 inches
  • Bridgehampton - 12 inches
  • Centereach - 32 inches
  • Central Islip - 30+ inches
  • Centerport - 21+ inches
  • Commack - 29+ inches
  • Deer Park - 20 inches
  • East Islip - 14 inches
  • East Northport - 19 inches
  • Eastport - 16 inches
  • East Setauket - 28+ inches
  • Holbrook - 26+ inches
  • Huntington - 29+ inches
  • Islip Macarthur Airport - 27+ inches
  • Jamesport - 14 inches
  • Kings Park - 30+ inches
  • Lake Ronkonkoma - 23 inches
  • Lindenhurst - 20+ inches
  • Medford - 33+ inches
  • Miller Place - 31+ inches
  • Mount Sinai - 26 inches
  • Nesconset - 30 inches 
  • Nort Babylon - 24 inches
  • North Patchogue - 20 inches
  • Port Jefferson - 25+ inches
  • Riverhead - 19+ inches
  • Rocky Point - 21 inches
  • Ronkonkoma - 19+ inches
  • Saint James - 28 inches
  • Sayville - 16 inches
  • Shoreham - 26 inches
  • Shirley - 10+ inches
  • Smithtown - 27 inches
  • Stony Brook - 28 inches
  • Sound Beach - 24+ inches
  • Upton - 30+ inches
  • Yaphank - 28 inches

  • Albertson - 11 inches
  • Baldwin Harbor - 9+ inches
  • Bayville - 16+ inches
  • Bellmore - 11 inches
  • Carle Place - 13 inches
  • East Norwich - 18 inches
  • Elmont - 12+ inches
  • Floral Park - 10 inches
  • Hempstead - 12 inches
  • Jericho - 10+ inches
  • Levittown - 12 inches
  • Lido Beach - 8+ inches
  • Long Beach - 10 inches
  • Massapequa - 15 inches
  • Massapequa Park - 18 inches
  • New Hyde Park - 8 inches
  • North Merrick - 10 inches
  • North Valley Stream - 9 inches
  • Plainview - 18 inches
  • Rockville Centre - 12+ inches
  • Seaford - 13+ inches
  • Wantagh - 11 inches
  • Woodmere - 13+ inches