Mom Michele Myler was alarmed when she noticed something very unusual in her son’s baby formula: metal. Myler sent a sample of the formula, called Enfamil A.R., to the manufacturer for testing, and the metal shavings from the formula were identified as aluminum dust. Though the manufacturer recognized the problem, they declined to issue a recall on the formula. Dr. Christopher Exley cautions parents, “Until we know for sure whether aluminum is completely safe, which seems unlikely, we should apply some sort of precautionary principle.” Myler’s experience reminds us how important it is for parents to stay attentive and question products that may be harmful to their children.

NBC New York, 6/12/13

Many people buy long-term care insurance so they won’t burden family members when they are no longer able to care for themselves, but the process of collecting the benefits can be lengthy and overwhelming. “When insurers stop selling or exit the business, many of them hire these third-party administrators to adjudicate claims, and that is where interpretations don’t seem to be as liberal,” says Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance. When filing a claim for a loved one, longtime brokers recommend educating yourself on how deductibles work, eligibility requirements, coverage for assisted living facilities, alternate plans of care and documentation to make collecting benefits easier.

The New York Times, 6/7/13

New reporting laws are shining a light on the widespread extent of payments and gifts from drug and device companies to physicians, a practice which has been rampant for decades. Companies often treat doctors to dinner, pay them to attend lectures, and underwrite conferences and continuing medical education courses. This all begs a serious question about how much patients can really trust their doctors. “I don’t think doctors ever set out to make decisions that are not in the best interest of their patients,” said Dr. Deborah R. Korenstein, associate professor at Mount Sinai. “But there are subconscious influences that people can’t control, and that’s why patients, and doctors, need to be concerned." Next year when the Physician Payment Sunshine Act goes into effect, data on these kinds of payments will be available nationwide, and patients will be able to use the information to make more informed decisions about doctors and treatment options.

The New York Times, 5/13/2013

Concerned about the countless medical misdiagnoses he witnessed as a medical resident at a Boston hospital, Dr. David Newman-Toker has been working to address the problem. He and his colleagues reviewed 25 years of medical malpractice claim payout data from the National Practitioner Data Bank and reported their findings in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety. Diagnostic errors were the most common source of the payments, the most expensive and the most likely to result in death (more so than surgical mistakes or medication overdoses).

Time, 4/24/2013

Dr. Leana Wen outlines the 10 most common medical errors that can occur in the hospital. Wen stresses that it's very important to look out for these things if you or a loved one will be receiving medical care.

Huffington Post, 4/3/2013

The FDA has issued a health warning for the most widely prescribed antibiotic for bacterial infections (including bronchitis and pneumonia). The drug is sold as Zithromax or Zmax, but it is commonly known as 'Z-Pack.' The FDA says it could trigger potentially irregular heart rhythms and could be deadly for some patients with heart problems.

wtnh.com, 3/14/2013

A new study reveals that seafood sold in the U.S. is often mislabeled; this seafood has been swapped for species that are cheaper, overfished, or dangerous to eat. Consumers can avoid falling victim to seafood fraud by buying whole fish, which are easier to identify, and not trusting prices that seem too good to be true. Asking questions of fish sellers, such as what kind of fish is being sold, whether it was wild-caught or farm-raised and where, or when and how the fish was caught, is another way consumers can empower themselves.

CNN, 2/21/2013

Many energy drinks have ingredients which can have a harmful effect on adolescent health, especially when mixed with alcohol, says a news report published in Pediatrics in Review.

Medical News Today, 2/6/2013

Acetaminophen is found in many drugs taken for the flu that, when overused, can lead to liver damage, major health problems or even death. Dr. Donald Gardenier, an assistant professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, says of acetaminophen, "It's easy to take extra because its hidden in so many medications." The Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition's "Know Your Dose" project is attempting to make the public aware of these overdose dangers. The coalition describes three simple ways to avoid an overdose: First, always read and follow the label. Second, check to see if your medications contain acetaminophen. Third, never take two or more medications that both contain acetaminophen.

CBS News, 1/10/2013

Popular metal water bottles are posing a surprising danger as kids are getting their tongues stuck inside and undergoing serious procedures to be freed.

Today Health, 1/9/2013

GM is recalling 54,686 model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. Manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and as a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position, or shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these situations may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.

Consumer Affairs, 1/4/2013

Subaru is recalling nearly 634,000 vehicles as follows: model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles; model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012; and certain models year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. It has been found that these models may have a potential electrical problem that could pose a smoke or fire hazard. 

Consumer Affairs, 1/3/2013