Most people expect their hospitals to be clean, sanitary, and safe, especially when a risky procedure like surgery is performed. While many hospitals do an acceptable job in keeping the environment sanitary, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center has fallen short, according to reports released to the Los Angeles Times. Federal authorities say the hospital has “failed to maintain a sanitary environment for surgeries” which is a cause for concern for those who have recently received treatment at the hospital. Due to an influx of infections, medical malpractice concerns have mounted.

“Thank God for the federal inspection,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. “It is necessary for the purposes of accountability and quality of care.”

After a federal inspection was performed, the hospital was found to have holes in the ceilings where potential debris may have fallen onto patients. In addition, reports also found rooms to be dusty and cluttered. Operating rooms were considered potentially unsanitary since they were kept at an incorrect humidity level which would allow for germs to spread more easily. Possibly worst of all, the federal reports say the hospital staff failed to wash their hands properly and according to policy prior to servicing patients.

“The hospital failed to maintain a sanitary environment for the provision of surgical services,” the reports said. “This could lead to contaminated surfaces in the operating room and the spread of infection.”

The inspections were called upon due in part to the infection control problems attributed to the hospital. As the Los Angeles Times reports, “[the problems] were so serious that the federal government sent a letter this summer threatening to revoke Medicare funding, a move that could financially destroy the institution.”

Now the facility is trying to remedy the problem. In a statement, the hospital will undergo new renovations that will hopefully improve the older surroundings that have contributed to the problems.

Understanding medical malpractice

Medical malpractice is generally a mistake or oversight by a doctor or hospital. Commonly, medical malpractice occurs as:

• Infections occurring in unsanitary hospital environments
• A misdiagnosis on behalf of the doctor of hospital
• Errors occurring in surgery and/or anesthesia
• Failure to treat your medical condition appropriately
• Hospital oversight and/or negligence
• Injury to infant or mother in obstetrical malpractice cases

According to the Journal of American Medical Association, over 225,000 people die as a direct result from medical malpractice. Deaths that occur by fault of a doctor or hospital account for the third leading cause of wrongful death in the United States.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

Michael Pines, founder, is one of San Diego’s leading personal injury lawyers, helping injured people in San Diego seek maximum recovery in medical malpractice cases. If you suspect you have been injured while under the care of a doctor or hospital, including infections or worsening of your case, call us now at 1-800-655-6585. We will answer your medical malpractice questions free of charge. Call us today.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

Romaine lettuce the latest produce to get recalled due to listeria. // PHOTO: Los Angeles Times

Eating fruits and vegetables are essential to any healthy diet and the benefits have long been necessary for a properly functioning system. But now, consumers have grown wary of eating produce due to the recent listeria recall injuries arising from Jensen cantaloupes.

The tainted batch of cantaloupes made headlines after causing what the Los Angeles Times called the nation’s deadliest food-borne outbreak in the last decade after causing 18 deaths and 100 illnesses throughout 20 states, including some areas like Iowa where distribution was not even recorded.

Then, after Romaine lettuce was recalled due the same deadly strain of bacteria, consumers understandably grew wary of consuming vegetables altogether. Fortunately, there have been no reported incidents of illness from the lettuce outbreak. But despite the seriousness of the issue, Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University reminds consumers the incidence of listeria on produce is rare: “Remember that [the outbreaks] are very unusual events,” he explained. “That said, I do have to admit it is a provocative coincidence.”

Understanding Listeria

The cause for concern lies in the seriousness of the bacteria. Ingesting Listeria monocytogenes can become a life-threatening  illness, especially for those with lowered immune systems, and especially pregnant women. In fact, the listeria outbreak associated with the cantaloupe recall has even caused an unfortunate miscarriage in Iowa and has infected 2 other women who are being closely monitored.

Listeria is found in soil and typically transmitted via animal urine and feces. Common foods that may contain listeria may include vegetables, but it is more commonly found on processed foods like hot dogs, deli meats, unpasteurized milk and cheeses, especially soft cheeses like Brie and Mexican cheeses, raw meats, and even products like ice cream and fish products.

Ways to prevent illness via listeria

You can take charge of your health and safety by being a proactive consumer. Follow the guidelines below for increased safety, and remember, while not every personal injury or illness can be entirely prevented, taking strides by following these guidelines can help you stay healthy.

Register at Recalls.gov

Simply enter your email address at Recalls.gov to stay on top of recall information for all food products. Parents are especially encouraged to sign up since children can be especially sensitive to food recalls.

Wash produce with more than just water

Consider using a fruit and vegetable wash and use a kitchen brush to clean your produce prior to eating. Removing soil, pesticides and even perspiration from your fresh produce can help to eliminate harmful bacteria from your food. For smaller or bulk vegetable items like grapes or lettuce, making a small bath using the vegetable wash and warm water will work to remove harmful foreign substances from your favorite foods.

Cook foods thoroughly

When at all possible, cook your foods thoroughly. Of course, with food items like salads and fresh fruit, this isn’t entirely possible, so be sure to clean these items thoroughly before consuming. However, for prepared foods, be sure to cook items up to 165 degrees for two minutes (steaming hot) depending on the foods you are cooking. The Center for Disease Control has recommended temperatures for your favorite food products.

If you have been injured by listeria contamination

Listeria is a serious condition that often requires medical intervention to prevent further illness. If you or a loved one has been infected by the listeria recall, call the Law Offices of Michael Pines at 1-800-655-6585 for a free and confidential legal review of your case. Our experienced personal injury lawyers can help you understand your legal options, and will guide you with expert care throughout the entire claims process. Call now, or submit your case online.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

In these tough economic times, many consumers have come to expect a certain degree of belt-tightening at the supermarket. However, the latest round of government budget cuts may soon affect consumer food supplies far beyond the price tag – including risk to personal injury.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Congress is currently threatening to eliminate the Microbiological Data Program – the only regulatory initiative that regularly screens domestic produce for deadly pathogens such as the E. coli strain that recently killed 40 and sickened over 4,000 throughout Germany. Driven by pressure from the agricultural industry and a pressing need to cut spending, the House approved a bill last month to end the program’s $4.5 million funding; and if the measure passes in the Senate, testing and subsequent recall measures to prevent salmonella and E. coli infection will come to a screeching halt.

Consumer risk vs. government spending – and how to stay safe in the crossfire

Currently, the Microbiological Data Program tests approximately 15,000 samples of pathogen-prone produce every year – enough to prompt 19 recalls in the last two years and keep a close and consistent watch on vulnerable items like sprouts, cilantro, spinach, tomatoes, lettuce and cantaloupe as it makes its way to supermarket shelves. Proponents of the budget-trimming measure argue that other provisions exist to test for contamination, and that the program’s funding could be “better utilized elsewhere.”

But according to safe food advocates, no other government agency offers comprehensive tests akin to those provided by the Microbiological Data program; and as Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group puts it, “since when does it make sense not to check food for potentially deadly pathogens?”

Caught between activists like Cook, members of Congress and agribusiness giants looking towards the bottom line, consumers may begin to feel helpless when it comes to ensuring food safety at home. After all, most shoppers rely heavily on the government to keep food supplies safe and nutritious – and without confidence in regulatory bodies, a simple trip to the supermarket can feel like a minefield.

Fortunately, there are steps we as responsibly consumers can take to prevent contaminated food and keep our friends and families safe – even in the midst of congressional debate over testing procedures:

Check for product recalls: keep an eye on the local headlines for recall announcements, and go online to www.recalls.gov for the latest updates and details regarding unsafe food and other consumer goods.

Make smart purchases: when buying fresh produce, choose items without any bruising or damage and only select portioned items (such as bagged greens or halved watermelons) that have been refrigerated or stored over ice.

Separate meats and produce: When transporting and storing groceries, keep raw meat, poultry and seafood products separate from fresh produce items – especially those that will be consumed raw.

Fortunately, even budget cuts won’t stop those dedicated to food safety from petitioning for proper testing procedures. Check back for updates as we keep a close watch on Congress’ assessment of the Microbiological Data Program; and if you or someone you know has already been affected by a food-borne illness, contact a personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Michael Pines today for a free consultation on how to proceed.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

Many drivers have probably wondered the same thing at some point: what good is a vehicle and its subsequent car payment, gas cost, and insurance premium when it simply sits in a parking lot all day in exchange for a small commute to and from work?

It isn’t surprising then that a new business has emerged: “peer-to-peer” car-sharing services that allow car owners to cash in on their idling vehicles during the course of the day.

How does it work? Car owners register for the service, and allow their vehicle to be rented by the hour for those enrolled in the car-sharing service provider. In exchange, the car owner makes a little extra money while the provider cashes in the rest.

Incredibly, did you know that 250 million personal vehicles are owned in the United States? And what’s more, vehicles are idle an average of 22 hours a day – this according to a company called Getaround, a car sharing service provider in right here in San Diego.

With a nod to services such as Zip Car, a rent-by-the-month vehicle provider, car owners can now rent out their personal vehicle to individuals who need a car for just a short period of time. With rates as much as $15 an hour, those who are financially savvy may contend that “car-sharing” may be just the ticket to save money in this tight economy – but before you jump to the races on the car-sharing trend, consider the following questions:

Does your car insurance cover other drivers, car accidents by others, or commercial use?

While car-sharing can be a green way to save money and the environment, there are serious underlying issues of the program, insurance being the headlining concern. For instance, the liability incurred for both parties is an incredible undertaking, and often not covered by car insurance. As Neil Abrams, a rental car industry consultant puts it, “If I allow a drunk driver to drive my car and he runs into a school bus, whose liability is that?” Most car-sharing programs are equipped with their own insurance policies, but it’s often the minutia of a car accident that can transcend insurance policies, and most importantly, liability.

While car-sharing services are legal in California, be aware that a driver can take your vehicle out-of-state since there are no provisions on its use. If that’s the case, and the driver is involved in reckless driving, you may be held liable for any car accidents occurring in that state as a result.

Do you fully trust the driver to remain at the scene of a car accident?

If you rent your car using car-sharing services, a certain level of trust is implied. For instance, if the renting driver is involved in a car accident, and flees the scene, who is responsible – you or the other driver? Technically, in this hypothetical situation, it would likely be the offending driver – but irresponsible drivers may go to great lengths to disprove your accusations, resulting in a head case of legal trouble should it ever escalate to that level.

Other factors to consider: car damage, smoking, and regular “wear and tear”

When the cat’s away, the mouse will play – or maybe just smoke in your car. If you’re not a smoker, renting your car to a smoker can have its less-than-favorable consequences. Plus, if a driver turns out to have scratched, dinged, or dented your vehicle, you will be hard-pressed to collect on the cost of repairs at a later time if you don’t catch it right away. And finally, don’t forget that regular “wear and tear” on a vehicle has its cost, especially considering a driver may not be as cautious as you are with your own property.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC

Michael Pines, San Diego’s personal injury attorney, has helped those injured in car accidents seek fair recovery in their claims. As specialists in car accident injury, the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC, are leaders in helping injured people deal with insurance companies after a car accident has occurred. For a no-fee legal consultation with Michael Pines, call 1-800-655-6585 or use or online for to submit your case. For more info on the firm’s success in other cases, read our client testimonials now.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.

Kellogg’s is synonymous with household comfort foods: cereal, cookies, wholesome snacks, and… flies? According to the FDA, the famous cookie and snack-maker is summoned to clean up their act after bacteria and flies were found swarming the food plant. And, in addition to the filthy surfaces, the letter from the FDA addressed to Kellogg’s found that pipes were dripping an unknown substance directly into a mixer bowl.

Kellogg’s, known for its Keebler brand and Famous Amos cookie company,  has received previous letters from the FDA of similar violations. For instance, in 2009, inspectors found listeria bacteria on food surfaces, which later contaminated the brand’s Eggo buttermilk waffle brand.  And now, it appears that history is repeating itself as Kellogg’s makes headlines for the same snafu.

Recall Alert: Kellogg’s pulls food off grocery shelves

Just announced today, the famous cookie and cereal brand will now voluntarily recall several food items from “due to an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner in the package.” Brands that are being recalled included:

• Kellogg’s Corn Pops
• Kellogg’s Honey Smacks
• Kellogg’s Froot Loops
• Kellogg’s Apple Jacks

Symptoms

In their press release, Kellogg’s told consumers the may experience health concerns, albeit non-threatening ones. Symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Headache

Kellogg’s made no mention of the recent warning letter issued by the FDA, and in fact did not further explain or warn customers about possible implications from their “filthy” working environment. But, Kellogg’s did issue a public apology. The apology was directed toward the recall, but not toward the contaminated factory.

“We apologize to our consumers and our customers and are working diligently to ensure that the affected products are rapidly removed from the marketplace,” said David Mackay, president and chief executive officer, Kellogg Company.

Staying safe in wake of food recalls

We realize how hard it may be stay on top of food recalls since they happen suddenly. By the time the recall is announced on television, radio or newspapers, it may be too late. We recommend registering for the FDA RSS feed for food safety recalls and warning letter reports. Most email clients support RSS feeds and set up is just as easy. Simply copy and paste the following URL into your RSS feed and you’ll be instantly notified if and when a food recall occurs.

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ContactFDA/StayInformed/RSSFeeds/Recalls/rss.xml

As Americans, we generally extend a certain level of trust toward national brands like Kellogg’s. When the public learns the brand has not extended its promise of excellence to its consumers,  it can be disheartening, if not altogether alarming. Many of us wouldn’t expect Kellogg’s to run a “filthy” factory, with potentially serious personal injury a possibility. We encourage consumers to stay on top of food recalls and sign up for the FDA RSS feed.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines

The Law Offices of Michael Pines are dedicated to preventing injury and accidents throughout the San Diego area and across the United States. As San Diego’s Safety Ambassador, Michael Pines has issued numerous public safety alerts for vehicle, bike helmet, stroller, food product, consumer goods, and numerous other potentially hazardous recalls. If you have been injured by food or product recalls, call Michael Pines today at 1-800-655-6585 for a free and private legal consultation.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.