Glick Law Firm, P.A.

Avandia (generic rosiglitazone) was approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat type 2 diabetes. On May 23, 2007, an article was published in the New England Journal of Medicine stating that Avandia significantly increases the risk of heart attack in diabetes patients. Though the drug has not been recalled to date, the FDA did issue a public safety alert advising those taking the drug to consult their doctors regarding the serious cardiovascular risks associated with taking the drug.

The maker of Avandia was ordered to issue a black box warning, the strictest warning a drug can issue, and agreed to do so on August 14, 2007. The black box warning stresses the drug may cause or worsen heart failure and that patients should be closely monitored.

These potential life-threatening effects of Avandia are not new, however. In 2000, Dr. John B. Buse, Chief of Endocrinology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, warned the FDA that Avandia showed "a worrisome trend in cardiovascular death and severe adverse events" among patients taking the drug.

Both the FDA and the maker of Avandia (GlaxoSmithKline) have known about the risks associated with the drug for seven years but have not adequately warned prescribing doctors and consumers about the deadly effects of the drug.

In 2006, worldwide sales of Avandia exceeded $3 billion, making it one of GlaxoSmithKline's best-selling drugs ever. Clearly, the maker of Avandia will lose quite a bit of money each year if, and when, Avandia is recalled.

If you or a loved one has suffered or died as a result of taking Avandia or some other dangerous drug in Boca Raton or anywhere in Florida, please contact the experienced Dangerous Drugs Attorneys at the Glick Law Firm, P.A., serving clients in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Roche Holding AG, a Swiss drug manufacturer with U.S. operations in Nutley, New Jersey, has been ordered to pay $2.5 million in damages to a 36-year-old man who developed severe Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) after taking the acne medication Accutane.

IBD refers to chronic diseases that cause inflammation in the form of painful swelling and diarrhea. Other common symptoms of IBD are abdominal cramps, blocked bowels, bloody stool, fever, dehydration, and extreme weight loss. IBD is also considered to be a major risk factor for developing colon and/or rectal cancer. Once you have IBD, symptoms can flare up without warning leaving sufferers constantly worried about when the next episode of pain and diarrhea will strike.

Accutane is a very powerful acne medication that Andrew McCarrell took in 1995. After taking the drug, he developed chronic diarrhea and incontinence, and, after multiple surgeries, finally had to have his colon removed. McCarrell was awarded $2.5 million and an additional $119,000 to cover his medical expenses. To date, there have been more than 400 lawsuits in the United States involving Accutane, which has been on the market since 1982.

If you or a loved one has taken Accutane and suffered from IBD or any other serious side effects, please call the experienced Dangerous Drugs Attorneys at Glick Law Firm, P.A. today to schedule your free initial consultation. The attorneys at the Glick Law Firm has been serving clients in Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Florida since 1981.

Burns are some of the most common accidental injuries, especially in children. Babies and young children are most susceptible to burn injuries because they are curious, small and have very sensitive skin. Some minor burns are not cause for alarm and can be treated at home, but other more serious burns require medical care.

Common Causes of Burns

· Scalds are the number one culprit and include scalds from steam, hot bath water, tipped over hot drinks such as coffee, and cooking fluids.
· Contact with flames or hot objects such as the stove, fireplace, curling iron, and candles.
· Chemical burns from swallowing things like drain cleaner and batteries or from spilling chemicals onto the skin such as bleach.
· Electrical burns from electrical cords and outlets or children sticking fingers or objects in electrical outlets.

Severity of Burns

Several factors are used to determine the severity of a burn, including the patient's age, size, depth of burn, and the location of the burn. Burns are classified as first degree, second degree, or third degree.

First-degree burns are red and very sensitive to touch; the skin will appear blanched when light pressure is applied. These burns involve minimal tissue damage and only involve the epidermis (top layer of skin). These burns may cause pain, redness and swelling. A sun burn is a good example of a first degree burn. First-degree burns can be treated at home by doing the following:

· If the skin is not broken, run cool water over the burned area and soak it in a cool water.
· Keep the burn victim calm.
· After soaking the burn for several minutes, cover the burn with a sterile non-adhesive bandage or cloth.
· Use over-the-counter pain medications to ease help; they may also help reduce inflammation and swelling.
· Will usually heal without further treatment.

Second-degree burns affect the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and the underlying layer of skin (dermis) and cause redness, pain, swelling and blisters. Second-degree burns also affect sweat glands and hair follicles. If a second-degree burn is not treated properly, swelling and decreased blood flow in the tissue can result in the burn becoming worse.

Third-degree burns affect the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis, causing charring of the skin or a translucent white color with coagulated vessels visible just below the surface of the skin. These burns may be numb, but the burn victim may complain of pain due to other second degree burns. Healing from third degree burns is a very slow process due to the skin tissue and structures being destroyed, and third degree burns usually result in extensive scarring.

The treatment for second and third degree burns is the same:

· Do not remove burnt clothing.
· Make sure the victim is breathing and if breathing has stopped, begin CPR.
· If the victim is breathing, cover the burn with a cool moist sterile bandage or cloth. Do not use a blanket or towel; a bed sheet is best for large burns. Do not apply ointment and avoid breaking blisters.
· Separate burnt toes and fingers with dry sterile non-adhesive dressings.
· Elevate the burned area if possible and protect it from pressure or friction.
· Monitor the victim's vital signs.
· Try to prevent shock by laying the victim flat with feet elevated about 12 inches and cover the victim with a coat or blanket. Do not place the victim in this position if it makes the victim uncomfortable or if a head, neck, back or leg injury is also suspected.
· Do not apply ice, ointment or butter to a burn.
· Do not allow the burn to become contaminated.
· Do not apply cold compresses.
· Do not immerse the victim in cold water.
· Do not place a pillow under the victim's head if there is an airway burn and they are lying down as this can close the airway.

Preventing Burns

There are several steps you can take to eliminate or reduce the risk of burns, especially of children, in your home such as:

· Keep matches and lighters out of reach.
· Put child-safety covers on electrical outlets.
· Choose flame retardant sleepwear.
· Make sure you have working smoke alarms throughout the house.
· Always test bath water before allowing it to touch your child.
· Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove when cooking.
· Keep children out of the kitchen while cooking.
· Always keep the screen over the fireplace opening.
· Don't leave child safety seats in a hot car or in the hot sun.

Burns are said to be the most excruciatingly painful physical injuries, and even minor burns can be relatively painful. If you or a loved one suffers a serious burn, seek medical attention immediately.

If you or a loved one has suffered a burn injury in Boca Raton or anywhere in Florida, please contact the Burn Injury Attorneys at the Glick Law Firm, P.A., serving residents in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Florida.