Consumer Awareness

The United States is the largest medical device market in the world with sales expected to reach $133 billion by 2016. In most cases, medical devices save and improve lives. Unfortunately, not all devices undergo the same rigorous review process before hitting the market. A number of new medical devices can and do bypass scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through a fast-track approval process called the 510(k) program. If a manufacturer…

With all of the massive recalls going on in America among car manufacturers, it is important to be very cautious and do your homework before buying a new or used car. Here are some interesting statistics: Lemons – Approximately 1 percent of all NEW cars sold each year are lemons, but estimates vary greatly and may be low, as manufacturers are not required to report lemons. Consumer Reports collects data on more than a million…

Lemons are frustrating, and in some cases, dangerous to drive. A lemon most commonly refers to new cars with a substantial defect that is not fixable even after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Every state in the country has its own lemon laws that protect consumers from lemons. Federal law also provides additional protection by detailing guidelines for coverage by the manufacturer’s warranty. The BIG catch, however, is that the burden of proof is…

The Illinois state legislature House lawmakers approved a bill that bans the sale of crib bumper pads. They also endorsed a bill that would set state standards for the crib padding. The bumpers are intended to keep baby’s limbs from getting caught between crib bars and to protect them from bumping their heads against side rails. The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that crib bumpers can cause suffocation. House Bill 3761 passed the chamber…

Almost eight million cars have now been recalled because of the potentially deadly Takata air bag defects. Consumer Reports explains the problem with step-by-step actions you should take now. To view this important information on what cars are affected and other important Q and A’s on this topic as well as the latest updates regarding the Takata air bag, click here. Four fatalities and more than 100 injuries have been linked to these airbags. It…

A federal jury awarded $175 million to a whistle-blower who questioned the safety of thousands of Trinity guardrail end caps that may be impaling cars instead of slowing them down safely. Ten different automakers were listed in an October 2014 recall notice to replace defective Takata air bags, which have claimed five lives so far. A second urgent recall was also issued in January 2015. More than 60 million vehicles were recalled in the United…

For the automotive industry, 2014 was the year of the recall. You couldn’t pick up a newspaper, turn on the evening news or check your favorite news site without hearing about another new and alarming recall. And unfortunately for car owners everywhere, recalls show no sign of letting up. What’s even more concerning is a lapse by automakers and federal regulators in responding soon enough to reports of serious injury and death. Visit Fatal Flaws:…

According to a new study conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, the main mechanism for tracking and documenting serious side effects associated with medications is deeply flawed, according to The New York Times (“Drug Maker’s Data on Side Effects Is Called Lacking in a Report,” Feb. 2, 2015). The study found that this problem is attributable to drug manufacturers themselves, alleging that these companies are submitting incomplete information in the reports to the…

Dr. G on Choosing Healthy Games Yes? No? Maybe? Unsure how to monitor your kids’ video game choices and use? Dr. G shares three tips for choosing healthy games and three ways to use them as educational resources. View video. Guide to Kids Video Games, Ages 7 to 11 FunDrop is an E-rated video game rental service for kids. The company’s YouTube channel features a four-part series that first walks parents through selecting the right…