The Food and Drug Administration has issued an important warning about one of the most popular antibiotics.  Azithromycin – known by the brand names Zithromax and Z-Pak – could cause fatal heart problems. More than 40 million prescriptions a year are written for azithromycin, for everything from bronchitis to urinary tract and skin infections. But like all drugs, azithromycin has its side effects. The FDA said one rare side effect could be lethal. It could cause an irregular heart rhythm that in some patients has caused sudden cardiac death. A Vanderbilt University study found an i

TV shows about law and medicine are sometimes realistic, sometimes not.  When Downton Abbey's Lady Sybil died of eclampsia seizures just after giving birth, some wondered if such a death would happen today.   The answer is both yes and no. Lady Sybil had undiagnosed pre-eclampsia, a condition that affects as many as one in ten pregnant women. It causes high blood pressure  and protein in the urine from kidney malfunction. It's also known as "Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension."  Symptoms include unrelenting headaches, vision disturbances, and swelling of the hands, face and feet (although so

The Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is conducting its tri-annual Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) designed to gather data from persons with disabilities in the state of Arizona regarding their experiences... and needs surrounding services and resources. This information will be used to develop priorities and strategies within the Vocational Rehabilitation program and other programs administered by RSA to optimize services for persons with disabilities in the state of Arizona. We are requesting your assistance with this survey so that the disability communit

You may have heard about the local 6-year-old boy who was recently given the wrong medication following a pharmacy mix-up. This isn't the first time we've heard of a pharmacy filling the wrong prescription, and the results are almost always severely dangerous. So what can you do to protect yourself from this type of situation? It is as simple as asking questions. While there lies a large amount of responsibility on the prescribing physician and the pharmacist, it doesn't hurt to double check their work. Confirm with your doctor the name of the medication being prescribed, and for what conditi

Jury selection is a vital part of trial.  At Bache & Lynch, we will ask the appropriate questions of potential jurors to try to avoid mishaps, like this one in Florida.  A juror in a Florida trial posted a comment on Facebook stating “Tomorrow we gotta make a decision who has the greater weight of proof between the plaintiff and defense, and I know my answer.” Jurors receive strict instructions not to discuss a trial outside the courtroom or to make any decisions before receiving instructions from a judge.  In the end, the judge granted the Defense’s motion for a mistrial.  The p