| Healthcare |
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| VA Hospital Showed Systemic Failures |
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Safety problems at a Pennsylvania VA hospital go far deeper than a renegade physician blamed for botching scores cancer treatments, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The newspaper cites a Veterans Affairs investigation report that found the Philadelphia VA Medical Center used staff that lacked experience developing and administering radiological treatments. Additionally, the report found that Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors allowed a physician to make changes to treatment plans to avoid reporting errors. Marie McCollough, Philadelphia Inquirer 07/05/2009
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Philadelphia Inquirer
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| Laws/Cases |
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| Lawsuit Filed Over Recalled Meat |
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Attorneys filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of a New Mexico boy who claims he was sickened after eating tainted meat from a Colorado slaughterhouse. According to the lawsuit, 13-year-old Alex Roerick of Albuquerque had to be hospitalized after eating meat produced at the JBS Swift & Co. Swift recalled nearly 400,000 pounds of beef earlier this year after discovering that the meat might have been contaminated. David Migoya, Denver Post 07/07/2009
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Denver Post
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| Attorneys Reach Last Minute Settlement in Birth Injury Case |
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An Ohio jury has awarded $31 million to the family of a child who suffered brain damage during birth, the Dayton Daily News reports. However, attorneys representing Miami Valley Hospital and the family reached an undisclosed settlement agreement while jurors deliberated. The family claimed that the hospital was negligent for failing to properly monitor the delivery despite knowledge that the mother was a high-risk patient. Lou Grieco, Dayton Daily News 07/06/2009
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Dayton Daily News
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| Energy Firm Settles Mercury Spill Suit |
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A Texas firm has agreed to pay several million dollars to clean up mercury contamination around Monroe, La., the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. According to the lawsuit, filed by several environmental groups, EnerVest Operating LLC failed to properly monitor and disclose mercury leaks in natural gas wells in northeast Louisiana. Mercury exposure has been linked to developmental disorders and other health problems in children. Jen DeGregorio, New Orleans Times-Picayune 07/06/2009
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New Orleans Times-Picayune
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| Jury: Police Discriminated Against Pregnant Officer |
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The Suffolk Park Police Department discriminated against a female police officer by forcing her to choose between working during pregnancy or taking unpaid leave, a federal court jury has ruled. Jurors also found that the department had retaliated against the woman by denying her paid leave donated by her husband, a fellow officer. Jurors are scheduled to determine damages in the case later this month. Zachary R. Dowdy, Newsday 07/06/2009
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Newsday
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| Appeals Court Upholds Ruling for ExxonMobil |
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A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling in favor of ExxonMobil Corp. over a 1993 fire in Baton Rouge. In the ruling, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a trial judge’s finding that the oil company was not liable for damages alleged by the plaintiffs. Nearly 6,000 Baton Rouge residents claimed they suffered health problems from chemical particulates from the fire. Sandy Davis, The Advocate 07/06/2009
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The Advocate
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| Government Knew of Contaminated Water, Lawsuit Says |
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A North Carolina military base knowingly exposed hundreds of thousands of Marines to contaminated drinking water over several decades, a lawsuit filed Monday claims. In the suit, 45-year-old Laura Jones, whose husband was stationed at Camp Lejeune, claims she developed lymphoma as a result of the exposure. The government has maintain that exposure to contaminated water at the base cannot be reliably linked to health problems. AP, Newsday 07/06/2009
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Newsday
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| Study |
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| Study Links Computer Use to Injuries |
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Computer use is landing an increasing number people in doctors’ offices or in the emergency room, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. In the study, researchers found that emergency room visits for computer-related injuries rose from 1,267 to 9,279 from 1994 to 2006. The highest rate of injuries occurred among children under 5, the study’s author said. Nicholas Bakalar, The New York Times 07/06/2009
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The New York Times
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