In 2011, the FDA announced that it was looking into reports of serious bleeding events by users of Pradaxa. The FDA also advised users to seek medical attention at the appearance of any signs of severe bleeding.

Approved by the FDA in 2010, Pradaxa is a blood thinning medication used to reduce the risk of a stroke in people with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Although blood thinners like Pradaxa and Coumadin are known to have risks of severe bleeding, Coumadin has an antidote. Pradaxa does not have this antidote, and it may therefore be difficult to stop the bleeding if an unexpected injury has occurred.

The Pradaxa attorneys at our firm would like to speak with people who have taken this drug and experienced a GI bleed, brain hemorrhage, or any serious bleeding event. Please contact Katie Hubbard, or call 1-800-782-8492 for a free review of your potential Pradaxa claim.

At Relay for Life, teams of people camp out at a local school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events that last up to 24 hours.

You can join Pam’s team, or make a donation to help the American Cancer Society create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Together, we can help make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone’s life!

Pam will be participating at the Relay for life in Collinsville, IL on Friday, May 18, 2012. Opening Ceremony begins at 6pm at Dorris Intermediate School.
Support Pam’s team, ‘Kickin Cancer’ here.

Every day, the American Cancer Society helps us stay well by preventing cancer or finding it at its earliest, most treatable stages. They assist families in finding the best resources to help their friend or loved one deal with a diagnosis and their journey to get well. The American Cancer Society is also rallying communities through events like Relay For Life, to fight back and find cures for this disease.

The Phoenix Crisis Center’s mission is to shelter families from violence. They work to empower women and children impacted by domestic violence to live safely, independently and free from further violence. Located in Granite City, their domestic violence shelter is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing an emergency hotline, shelter, counseling, education, children’s services, legal advocacy and other supportive services.

This is a worthwhile cause that depends each and every year on the generosity of others. There are many ways you can participate: To attend Trivia Night, tables of eight players are available for $120 per table. The doors open at 6:00 pm and the fun starts at 7:00 pm. If you are not interested in playing, there are sponsorship opportunities available, including $100 trivia round sponsors and $500 event sponsors.

If you have any further questions visit www.phoenixcrisiscenter.org or feel free to contact The Phoenix Crisis Center’s Jennifer Kelley at 618-451-4267 or Rachael Friedel at 618-781-4102. We’ll see you there!

If you are involved in a lawsuit, and have a blog, personal website, or accounts on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Google+, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, LinkedIn, Foursquare, or Meetup, here are some social media dos and don’ts to keep in mind during your case:

DO:
Remember That What You Post on the Internet Can (And Will) Be Used Against You. If you have a pending case, you can count on the fact that the other side is searching the internet for any information it can find to harm your case.

Use the Most Restrictive Privacy Settings Possible. Review the privacy settings on all your social networking profiles to ensure that only people you trust can see your personal information, posts, photos and videos. Update your privacy settings every three months.

Keep in Mind That the Internet Is a Public Place. Social media accounts can be hacked, and even the most stringent privacy settings do not keep the people you friend from sharing your posts and information on their own pages or elsewhere.

Consider Everything You Post a Permanent Record. Much of what you post on the internet is permanently recorded somewhere. Facebook keeps all of your information even if you close your account, and search engines such as the Internet Archive Wayback Machine can find old webpages that have been altered or deleted.

Think about Quitting or Limiting All Social Media During Your Case. By doing so, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary risk of compromising your case, or having courts and lawyers scrutinize your private life.

DON’T:
Post Anything on the Internet about Your Case, Your Incident, or Your Injuries. Also ask your family and friends not to discuss your case on the internet, either on your page or theirs.

Use Social Networking Messaging Platforms to Discuss Your Case. Sometimes even private messages can be shared by your friends or discovered by the other side.

Friend Anyone You Do Not Know Personally. Sometimes unethical lawyers or investigators may try to access your webpage under a false name. Make sure you know a person before allowing them to access your website, blog or profile.

Comment on News Articles or Blog Posts about Your Case. Even if you make comments “anonymously” or with a different username or email, in some cases your comments may still be traced back to you.

Do you have any questions about social media or a claim? Contact us.

John brings with him a wide range of experience in corporate and transactional matters. He has represented corporate clients through complex asset and stock purchases, employment matters, real estate developments, and collection matters. A unique area of John’s practice is in the fiber-optic communications industry where he has represented clients in the construction and sale of fiber-optic communication systems.

John’s earned a Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University in 1997, a Master’s of Public Administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1992, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Millikin University in 1990.

Dedicated to staying active in his community, John serves on the board of the Edwardsville YMCA and of the Children’s Home and Aid-Southern Region. He is also the Chair of the Fire and Police Commission for the City of Edwardsville, a member of the Goshen Rotary Club, and serves on the property committee of the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois.

Please welcome John to GHAR, and feel free to contact him with any question regarding business or commercial law.

POAs allow you, the “Principal”, to give someone, your “Attorney-in-Fact”, the legal ability to act on your behalf when you are unavailable (i.e., traveling) or unable to do so (i.e., ill or incapacitated). Your Attorney-in-Fact should be someone you trust to handle your affairs and respect your wishes.

POAs are often confused with wills but are different in that they only apply during your lifetime; whereas, a will applies when you die. Thus, POAs are like the lifetime counterpart to a will.

There are two kinds of POAs: (1) property and (2) healthcare. A property POA gives your Attorney-in-Fact the right to perform necessary tasks to manage your property, real and personal. A healthcare POA authorizes your Attorney-in-Fact to make decisions regarding hospitalization and long-term care when you are incapacitated.

One interesting aspect of the healthcare POA is that you can mandate a particular plan of care. For instance, you can authorize your Attorney-in-Fact to withhold all life-sustaining procedures, including nutrition and hydration, allowing you to die naturally, without delay. This can ensure your wishes will be respected and can give your family some peace of mind that they will not be left with the burden of making these difficult decisions.

In the absence of POAs, you risk having your affairs managed by a court-appointed guardian, or sending your family to court to obtain the authority to handle your affairs. This process can be time-consuming, slow and expensive, especially when compared to the minimal cost of having POAs drafted by an attorney. Think of the proverbial “ounce of prevention”.

Your estate plan should include tools not only for after your death, but also during your life. It is important to thoughtfully and responsibly prepare for the possibility of illness and incapacity and POAs are a simple, economical way to accomplish that.

Should you have a question or would like to discuss your estate plan, please contact Teri L. Havron.

Mandatory arbitration is a system that was set up in Illinois to help with the high volume of cases in our court system. It is a program in operation in both Madison County and St. Clair County, as well as other counties in the state. The word “arbitration” is used because it is a different or alternative form of resolving a dispute than a normal trial with a judge and jury. The word “mandatory” is used because most cases that are worth under $50,000 must be filed in the arbitration unit, with some exceptions. The good news is that the mandatory arbitration process moves cases along quicker…usually. A law suit is filed with the court in the same way it would be for any other case, but it is filed in the arbitration unit instead of the civil court system.

After a law suit is filed, there is limited discovery that can take place by both sides. Discovery includes allowing each side to ask questions of the other side in writing, requesting documents from them, and taking depositions (questions in person, under oath) of witnesses or people involved in the case. After this is completed, the case can proceed to arbitration.

There will be three arbitrators at the arbitration who decide the value of the case, or the amount of money awarded. The three arbitrators are all attorneys in the area who have enough experience to be on a list that the arbitration unit uses to randomly assign them to cases. Usually the arbitration does not last longer than two hours. It is informal and each side can present their case with an explanation of the facts and witness/party testimony. The arbitrators then give a decision in writing to each side some time after the arbitration. If the decision is accepted by each side, the case is over, but if one side rejects it they can pay a fee to have the case tried again. But this time, it would be in a court room in front of a Judge and jury for an actual trial.

The cases I handle are mostly for people who have been injured in an auto accident, injured at work, or in other ways by negligent parties. Whether it is through arbitration, trial, or battling with insurance companies, I can help “de-lawyerize” a process that is sometimes intimidating. If you have been injured or just have questions about this process, give me a call or send me an email.

Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) was approved in October 2010 by the FDA to reduce the risk of strokes in high-risk patients – or those with atrial fibrillation, a condition that affects about 2 million Americans. Since approval, it has generated an abnormally high number of adverse-event reports, including 260 fatalities from people who have bled to death while using the drug.

This has triggered several outcries for a recall. Research seems to indicate that the bleeding deaths are related to the fact that Pradaxa inhibits the release of a key protein that is essential to the formation of blood clots. Therefore, patients with ulcers or internal injuries can suffer much greater blood loss than those not on Pradaxa.

Doctors have reported seeing Pradaxa patients in emergency rooms bleed to death because they could not reverse Pradaxa’s powerful blood thinning effects. The drug has no known antidote to reverse its effects in the event of a medical emergency.

From the time Pradaxa came on to the U.S. market in late 2010 until August 2011, the FDA says that 371,000 patients in the United States began taking the drug. By the end of June 2011, the FDA had received 1,583 reports of “gastrointestinal hemorrhages” and 466 cases of “vascular hemorrhagic” complaints.

If you or a loved one suffered when using Pradaxa, contact Robert D. Rowland.

This year, the SOAR scholarship will be open to area high school seniors, who will compete for a $1,000 grant to fund the aid in the support of their studies.

SOAR will also recognize a “Friend of SOAR” at the Awards Banquet who has led the charge for the working and retired workers. They will also recognize the most active members and other volunteers in the community who are making the organization strong and effective.

The Banquet will be held at the Neighborhood Social Club in Pontoon Beach, IL. This casual event will feature a catered dinner, prizes, and raffles. Tickets are $20/single or $35/couple in advance and $25/40 at the door; a table for 6 is $115. You can also make a direct contribution to SOAR. Visit http://www.soar7-34-2.org/ or call 618-452-1130.

These materials led the way for the metal-on-metal (MoM) hips. Recent high-tech developments in hard metal alloys made hip components with smooth components, so a cup and head could fit together perfectly.

The new MoM hip was well-praised in the medical community, and marketed heavily as an ideal option for younger, more active patients. It was promoted as having a longer life than other hip options – 20 years or more. Yet significant problems arose, including:

Aseptic loosening: The cup becomes loose for reasons other than infection, requiring revision surgery.

Bone loss: The release of metal ions is suspected to cause osteolysis and inhibit or reverse the bony ingrowth process that holds the devices in place. Many MoM recipients first report great results, then later need revision surgery.

Metallosis: This serious reaction to the accumulation of metal ions or metal debris in the body, metallosis can result in tissue death, pseudotumors and bone degradation.

Neurological problems: Long-term exposure to cobalt and chromium ions can lead to headaches, memory issues, metallic taste in the mouth and cardiac abnormalities.

The FDA is currently gathering information about MoM hip systems, including information about adverse effects of increased levels of cobalt and chromium in the blood stream.

Current MoM hips with alleged injuries include the Zimmer Duron Cup, the DePuy ASR, the DePuy Pinnacle and the Wright Conserve.

If you or a loved one is currently suffering from a MoM hip replacement, contact Robert D Rowland.

Yet thalidomide never had a significant impact on the United States. Why? Because before it could reach the market in the U.S., pharmacologist and M.D. Frances Oldham Kelsey refused to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to Richardson-Merrell to market thalidomide. She strongly believed further studies were needed. Kelsey discovered that although thalidomide was being used across the globe, it hadn’t received much testing; In fact, it hadn’t even been tested on pregnant animals. Her decision to deny FDA approval exemplified the need for scientific product development, regulation and review.

In the aftermath of the thalidomide tragedies, the United States Congress enacted the Kefauer-Harris amendments in 1962 requiring proof of safety and efficiency before a drug can receive approval for sale in the U.S.

This turning point led to a new era of medical responsibility and science that has continued to this day. All new drug applications must demonstrate “substantial evidence” of the drug’s efficacy for a marketed indication, in addition to the existing requirement for pre-marketing demonstration of safety.

It’s funny to hear politicians argue that government regulation is holding back our economy. FDA regulation is holding back pharmaceutical companies who, in their rush to market, put profits over people. We still need a strong FDA, “one endowed with the necessary resources to ensue smart, sound, and science-based regulation”.

Contact Robert D. Rowland here.

The evening will honor current JCS heroes as it raises funds to support additional heroes. The formal evening will include silent and live auctions, a seated dinner and a premium open bar.

For more information on the Price of Freedom Event visit http://www.priceoffreedomgala.org/

Please visit the Joshua Chamberlain Society at http://www.chamberlainsociety.org/ to learn more about this extraordinary organization and to help donate to aid severely wounded military service members and the families of killed-in-action members of our military who sacrificed all in our service.

View the 2012 event program here:
jcs2012programfinal

Unsafe Claims

Most HCG diet products are marketed in conjunction with extremely low calorie diets – as low as 500 calories a day. These diets claim consumers will lose up to 30 pounds in 30-40 days.

The problem is, any weight loss experienced is a result from severe calorie restriction – not from HCG. The FDA has approved HCG as a prescription drug for the treatment of female infertility and other medical conditions – but not for weight loss. Its prescription drug label states there “is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or ‘normal’ distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.”

A Dangerous Diet

Eating 500 calories a day is extremely dangerous, and can leave you at an increased risk for gallstone formation, an imbalance of the electrolytes that keep the body’s muscles and nerves functioning properly, and an irregular heartbeat. Without constant medical supervision for a condition such as obesity, such a restrictive diet could even be fatal.

FDA Legal Action

It’s illegal to sell products claiming to contain HCG as an OTC drug product. Companies marketing and selling these products could face enforcement actions, legal penalties or criminal prosecution. The FDA also advises consumers who have purchased homeopathic HCG for weight loss to stop using it, throw it out, and stop following the dieting instructions.

If you or a loved are on an HCG diet and have experienced any illnesses while taking HCG, contact Robert D. Rowland.

Elizabeth Heller with her her second-place medal from the 2012 UCI Masters Cyclo-cross World Championships - photo by Diana Linsley

Cyclo-cross isn’t a typical bike race. It’s a fast course on pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to quickly dismount, carry the bike while navigating the obstructions and remount. And since races are usually held during the Fall and Winter, rain, wind, snow – and mud – is common. Competitors often change bicycles mid-race so mud can continually be power-washed washed off in the pit area. Falls are common in cyclo-cross, and so are broken bones.

“It was four inches of frozen, muddy ruts, but it was a great course,” Heller said of the 1.5-mile, 50 minute race on Jan. 14. “I hope to win next year.”

Elizabeth began competing in triathlons after graduating from Beloit College in 1980. A natural-born competitor, she decided to switch to cycling, and has continued to pursue it as a passion over the years.

She started with triathlons, but soon put all her training toward cycling, which served her well. She was the Missouri State Road Race Champion 10 years in a row (1988-1996) and the Missouri State Mountain Bike Champion for five consecutive years (1990-1995). She is also a five-time Missouri State Criterium Champion, five-time Missouri State 40-K Time Trial Champion and has four U.S.C.F. National Masters Championship titles to her name (1989 and 1990). In 1992, she and a blind male partner won silver medals in the Paralympics Tandem Road Race in Barcelona, Spain.

After joining Goldenberg Heller Antognoli & Rowland in 1991, she continued to cycle competitively in the 1990s. In 1999 she was named Cyclist of the Decade by the St. Louis Cycling Club. Then, after a 15 year break, she returned to competitive racing in the form of cyclo-cross.

“It’s no walk in the park. When you’re 54 you’re as old as your mother used to be. I think I’m crazy, but then I see others out here who are just as crazy as I am,” Elizabeth says. “I’ll keep doing it as long as I can.”

Elizabeth Heller (L) takes 2nd place in the UCI Master's World Championships

I chose to volunteer because I wanted to do something to help out in the community and I knew I wanted to work with kids. In order to be appointed as a CASA advocate, you have to be committed to the cause – you must complete a 16-hour training course and be sworn in by the Judge. CASA advocates dedicate their hearts and minds to improving life for children in St. Louis, maintaining the child welfare system’s focus on the child. It’s my responsibility to provide the court a full picture of a child’s life and recommend what I think is best for him or her. CASA advocates can truly change the lives of abused children by helping them move from foster care to safe, stable homes where they have a chance for a brighter future.

Here’s an example of how a case can unfold: my very first case involved an infant who was left in a car on a hot summer day, as his mother passed out from drug use. Once the child was taken into custody by Children’s Division and placed into relative foster care (with a Great Aunt), the Court became his legal guardian.

The main goal, as with any case, is reunification with the child’s biological parent(s). In order to do that, the parent(s) is/are required to complete Court required services. In addition to a parenting course and psychological evaluation, this child’s mother needed to complete drug rehabilitation. She was in and out of several programs, but kept relapsing. She finally determined that she was not and would not be in a good place to raise her child. Currently, she has found a program that is working for her, but she still granted permission for the child’s Great Aunt to have guardianship so that he could get out of the Children’s Division custody. If, in the future, the mother is able to provide a stable, healthy lifestyle, she can petition the court for custody of the child.

During this entire process, the CASA advocates “speaks” for the child – giving them a voice in all critical decisions affecting their well being while in foster care.

It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’m glad I decided to volunteer my time. If you would like more information on Voices for Children, or are interested in volunteering or becoming a CASA advocate, visit their website at www.voices-stl.org.

In 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved INFUSE for only one type of spine surgery – anterior approach lumbar fusion. It has not been approved for any other type of spine surgeries, such as lateral or posterior approach lumbar fusion surgeries, or for surgery on the neck or cervical spine (the portion of the spine that runs from the shoulders to the head).

Despite its limited authorized use, INFUSE has been used off-label in surgeries on the lumbar or cervical spine for many patients. Today, as much as 85% of INFUSE use is off-label. In cases like these, when any drug or medical device is used off-label, the surgeon must fully disclose any and all risks prior to the surgery, so that the patient may make an informed decision as to whether or not to proceed with the surgery.

In June of 2011, a medical journal called The Spine Journal criticized earlier studies by physicians with financial ties to Medtronic that supported the widespread use of INFUSE. The Spine Journal charged “biased and corrupted research,” alleging the studies greatly understated INFUSE’s serious side effects and risks. In fact, in none of the 13 trials funded by Medtronic were any adverse events disclosed.

U.S. regulators and other research has now shown that up to 50% of patients who have received an INFUSE implant have suffered adverse effects, including ectopic bone growth, uncontrolled bone growth, swelling in the neck and throat, infection, inflammatory cyst formation, cancer, and infertility in men.

Have you or a loved one suffered side effects after receiving an INFUSE implant? Contact Robert D. Rowland.

A quick Google search will lead to countless websites selling HCG, and any search for HCG side effects is filled with ads promoting the substance. Like many other diet fads, there is a lack of long-term research on side effects that can be caused by adding this hormone to your diet at such a high level.

The FDA has not approved HCG for weight loss, and is advising consumers to avoid all HCG weight loss products. Along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), they have issued letters to companies warning them that they are selling illegal homeopathic HCG weight-loss drugs that have not been approved by FDA, and that make unsupported claims. The FDA advises consumers who have purchased homeopathic HCG for weight loss to stop using it, throw it out, and stop following the dieting instructions.

If you or a loved are on an HCG diet and have experienced any illnesses while taking HCG, contact Katie A Hubbard.

Nearly 20 percent of all pregnancies in the United States result in early labor, and an estimated one million women are treated with Terbutaline or similar drugs to halt early contractions every year. The use of Terbutaline for use in pre-term labor and premature birth is not approved by the FDA. In fact, in 1997 the FDA issued its first warning concerning the potential dangers associated with the use of Terbutaline for the treatment and prevention of pre-term labor.

Studies show a link between the use of Terbutaline during pregnancy and an increased risk of brain damage and cognitive deficits, which may become noticeable at infancy, continue through adolescence and cause permanent disabilities. Researchers at Duke suggest that exposure predisposes newborns and infants to fall victim to particular ailments and medical conditions later in life.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program has now recommended women with asthma no longer take Terbutaline while they are pregnant, as the drug may penetrate to the fetus and affect brain development.

Terbutaline is sold under the brand names Brethine and Bricanyl. If you or a loved one has suffered from the effects of this drug, contact Robert D. Rowland.

The results of the Actos study showed an increased risk of bladder cancer among long-term users of the drug, and a greater risk of bladder cancer among users exposed to the highest cumulative dose. The FDA is now requiring that new information about an increased risk of bladder cancer be added to the Warnings and Precautions section of the Actos label.

The FDA has also acknowledged a recent 10-years study in France, which suggests an increased risk of the bladder cancer with Actos use. As a result of this study, France has banned Actos, and Germany is advising doctors not to start Actos in new patients.

Symptoms of bladder cancer can include:
• Abdominal pain
• Blood in the urine
• Bone pain or tenderness
• Fatigue
• Painful urination
• Urinary frequency
• Urinary urgency
• Urine leakage (incontinence)
• Weight loss

If you or a loved one has suffered using Actos or pioglitazone, contact Robert D. Rowland.

The FDA warns that the risks of placing mesh through the vagina to repair pelvic organ prolapse may outweigh its benefits, as the number of adverse events has increased since it first issued a safety communication in 2008.

The most frequent complications reported to the FDA for surgical mesh devices for POP repair include:
• Erosion or protrusion of the mesh from the soft tissues
• Pain, including pain with intercourse
• Infections in the area of the mesh
• Urinary tract problems
• Bleeding from the mesh site
• Damage to nearby organs

There have also been reports of recurrent prolapse, neuro-muscular problems, vaginal scarring/shrinkage, and emotional problems. Many of these complications require additional intervention, including medical or surgical treatment and hospitalization.

In a study of almost 12,000 women, approximately 10% of women experienced mesh erosion within a year after surgery (Abed, 2011), and problems with the mesh tend to develop at least a month after surgery for POP (Caquant, 2008).

If you or a loved one have received a vaginal mesh implant and are experiencing issues, contact Robert D. Rowland to discuss your case.