Philadelphia Wrongful Death Law Blog

Advancements in medical technology have served to transform what were once major operations into relatively minor surgical procedures, meaning less intrusive tactics, shorter recovery times and better results. One area in particular that has seen great advancements is cosmetic procedures. For example, a once major procedure like liposuction may now be performed in the setting of a doctor’s office.

Interestingly, lawmakers in New Jersey are currently considering two companion bills -- Assembly Bill 1824 and Senate Bill 2079 -- that would mandate that certain medical procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation and abdominoplasty ( i.e., tummy tucks) be performed in either hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers.

For those unfamiliar with ASCs, they are accredited facilities staffed by surgeons and specially trained medical staff. Unlike most doctors’ offices, ASCs are outfitted with advanced medical equipment that enables surgical staff to performed surgeries requiring general anesthesia.

Pennsylvania officially joined the fight against distracted driving back in March 2012, when a new law making texting while driving a primary offense went into effect.

Law enforcement officials throughout the Keystone State now have the ability to pull motorists over and issue them a $50 citation for using an “interactive wireless communication device” while behind the wheel. Here, an IWCD includes everything from cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, portable computers or other such tools to text, instant message, browse the internet or send/receive email.

While you would be inclined to believe that laws like these would serve to prevent teens -- the age group most attached to their phones -- from texting behind the wheel, this hasn’t actually been the case.

A recent study by researchers at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York determined that as many as 39 percent of teens residing in states with laws expressly prohibiting texting while driving did so anyway as opposed to 44 percent of teens residing in states lacking such laws.

When we rent a car from a national chain or a local car-sharing service, we take it for granted that the people in charge of the automobile will make sure that the necessary maintenance is performed and any repair work is undertaken. In other words, we assume that the automobile that we are driving off the lot is ready to meet the rigors of the road.

Unfortunately, this doesn't always happen and the results can range from mere inconvenience -- a flat tire -- to utter catastrophe -- a brake failure. If serious injuries occur because the responsible party failed to perform their duties, they can and should be held accountable in a court of law.

Consider a case out of Philadelphia where a jury recently awarded over $15 million to six plaintiffs who were seriously injured in a horrific car accident caused by the failure of a local car dealer to maintain a van in a car-share fleet.

Many fitness enthusiasts are constantly looking for an edge in their quest to maintain peak physical fitness. For some this means trying a special diet or purchasing a special type of training gear, while for others it can mean turning to so-called dietary supplements.

One such supplement that has amassed a strong following over the last few years is a product called Jack3d (pronounced Jacked) manufactured by USP Labs. While users of Jacked claim that it gives them the energy burst they need to maximize their workout, both FDA officials and health experts claim it is actually a dangerous product.

The controversy surrounds a particular ingredient found in Jacked called 1,3 dimethylamylamine or DMAA. FDA officials indicate that they have received over 80 adverse event reports that they believe can be traced to DMAA, and which outline a variety of rather frightening side effects such as chest pain, anxiety, vomiting and death.