Pfizer Recalls 28 Lots of Birth Control Pills

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Pfizer has recalled 28 lots of birth control pills, principally Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets. The recall was caused by problems with "ingredients and sequence of the medication."

　
Apparently, the tablets were manufactured and packaged by Pfizer Inc., and marketed by Akrimax Rx Products and labeled under the Akrimax Pharmaceuticals brand. Pfizer says the problems were caused by packaging errors that resulted in disruption of the daily regimen of contraceptives. The disruption "could leave women without adequate contraception, and at risk for unintended pregnancy." Pfizer claims the packaging defects "do not pose any immediate health risks," but, warn "consumers exposed to affected packaging should begin using a non-hormonal form of contraception immediately," notify their physician, and return the product to the pharmacy.

Houston Settles Red Light Camera Contract Lawsuit

It’s a source of great irritation to many drivers. It’s a bad idea for city officials. But, it's a bonanza for “entrepreneurs” who can make crime, however slight, profitable - $12 million in profits to be exact! And, the insult that is added to the injury is taxpayers picking-up the tab for a bad idea gone really, really bad.

KTRK-TV reports that the city of Houston agreed to settle a lawsuit filed against the use of red-light cameras. Last August, the city turned the cameras off and stopped issuing tickets but still had to deal with the contract with camera manufacturer American Traffic Solutions (ATS). In the proposed settlement, the city offered to pay ATS more than $12 million for breach of contract. $12 million, ouch! Demond Fernandez , KTRK-TV 01/21/2012 Read Article: KTRK-TV

Florida Jury Awards $168 Million in Malpractice Suit

Charles Broward with the Florida Times Union reports that a Florida jury has awarded $168 million to a Clay County deputy who filed a lawsuit against Memorial Hospital Jacksonville over a botched gastric bypass surgery in 2007. The suit alleges that complications arose during the surgery which were not treated in a timely fashion, causing the deputy to suffer severe brain injuries due to "cardiac arrest and septic shock." The deputy still suffers lingering effects from the surgery, including inability to "walk, feed, clean and bathe himself." Charles Broward , Florida Times Union 01/23/2012 Read Article: Florida Times Union

Johnson & Johnson to Pay $158 Million to Texas

It was just a matter of time before the ugly visage of the corporate vulture became public. At last, the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $158 million to the state of Texas on claims that the company “overcharged” Medicaid and “illegally promoted” the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. Johnson & Johnson “allegedly” over-hyped the benefits of the drug and downplayed its risks. The settlement is said to be the largest Medicaid fraud settlement in state history. David Sell, Boston Herald 01/19/2012 Read Article: Boston Herald

Lawsuit Alleges Group Benefits Overbilled

The Advocate reports that a class actio has been filed because the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits "unwittingly" overbilled some PPO policyholders and dependents who had outpatient procedures at a hospital or other facility rather than a doctor's office. Plaintiff attorneys say the lawsuit may involve tens of thousands of claims. Read Article: The Advocate

Fracking For Shale Gas: Is It Safe?

Environmental expert Wilma Subra (Subra Company) has compiled a fact sheet outlining human health impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing in development of shale gas. Fracking is a questionable technique used to produce shale gas. To learn more, follow this link to the Louisiana Environmental Action Network website.

Sarah Palin And The Pornography of Violence

It was a chilling scene: Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, flees to Canterbury Cathedral where services are in progress. Knights of Henry II find Becket at the altar, mercilessly drawing their swords and hacking the Archbishop until his skull splits open and he dies.

How did the murder come about? What was the motive? For sure, Henry wanted to consolidate his political power. If he eliminated Becket, he would remove a political obstacle.

Did Henry directly commission the knights to kill the Archbishop? No, Henry was more cunning; he used others as his tools.

History records Henry as saying, “What sluggards? What cowards have I brought up in my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord? Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest?" Henry’s well-coined phrase, disguised ambiguity, rhetorical structure, falling on the right ears, was calculated to arouse the passions enough to inspire the right type of person to commit murder.

When Sarah Palin put crosshairs on Gabrielle Giffords and 19 other members of congress, she knew the image it would conjure and the passions it would arouse, if it infected the right set of ears. Palin’s crosshairs, Limbaugh’s vitriol, and Beck’s paranoia, all emerge from the same lust for power, each an exquisite example of the pornography of violence.