Saundersblog.com - February 2006 Archives

February 2006

Monday 27 February

Life Teen Founder Freed from House Arrest (11:02) - Monsignor Dale Fushek has been freed from the house arrest and electronic monitoring imposed upon him after being arrested on sex abuse charges. The scandal surrounding Fushek erupted late last year after his arrest on sex abuse charges. The Phoenix... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Monsignor Fushek Ends House Arrest (10:59) - Monsignor Dale Fushek, founder of Life Teen and a high-ranking monsignor in the Phoenix Diocese has been released from house arrest and the electronic monitoring imposed upon him after his arrest on sex abuse charges late last year. However, witnesses... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Cardinal George Ignored His Oversight Board (07:10) - Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago, had ignored recommendations of his own board concerning the sexual predator Rev. Daniel McCormack. The board had recommended months ago to review the predatory priest but George ignored the recommendation. Now, victims advocacy groups... | 0 Comments
Victoria's Secret Product Recalled (07:08) - The following recall notice was published in News Inferno: The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Victoria's Secret Direct, of Columbus, Ohio, have announced the voluntary recall of some 500 Silk Kimono Tops manufactured in the United States by Single of... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Sunday 26 February

Fort Pierce Man Dies After Being Tasered in Emergency Room (12:04) - A 48 year old Ft. Pierce man died after being tasered by police in a hospital ER. Samuel Hair, who used a pacemaker, was shocked with a Taser on Tuesday night after he became unruly in the emergency room at... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Friday 24 February

Safety Tips for Driving an SUV (06:25) - Some good advice printed in the San Jose Mercury News: There is some encouraging news. New SUVs are being built lower to the ground, decreasing their chances of rolling over and improving safety when SUVs collide with cars. It's not... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Ft. Pierce Man in Critical Condition after Being Tasered (06:21) - A 48-year-old Fort Pierce man is in critical condition after police shocked him with a Taser gun. Investigators said the man asked police to take him to a mental facility. Police say he had been shocked twice in the leg.... | 0 Comments

Thursday 23 February

FDA Sends Violation Notice to Guidant (10:55) - Heart device maker Guidant Corp. said Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration found a deficiency in how the company is identifying quality problems at its St. Paul, Minn. cardiac rhythm management plant.... | 0 Comments
Man Catches Fire after Hit by Taser (10:51) - A Daytona Beach man caught fire after being tasered by police. He caught fire when a probe from a police Taser gun hit a butane lighter in his pocket and set him on fire... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Third Stun Gun Death in a Month in New Orleans Area (10:49) - A man died about 36 hours after being subdued with a stun gun by St. Tammany Parish sheriff's deputies responding to a domestic disturbance at his home, authorities have revealed. The case marks the third time in less than a... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Two New American Cardinals Tethered to Sex Abuse Scandal (10:43) - When Pope Benedict XVI tapped two American archbishops as cardinals this week, it was widely noted in the press that both men have been at the center of the sex abuse controversy. Archbishop William Levada, formerly Archbishop of San Francisco... | 0 Comments

Wednesday 22 February

Dubuque Archdiocese Settles Priest Abuse Cases (06:36) - While the victims talked about the settlement in Waterloo, church leaders in Dubuque gave a public apology and talked about how the archdiocese would move forward. Closure and restitution seem to be the two words that best describe this settlement... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Nashville Police Revise Taser Policy (06:32) - Metro police sergeants are called in whenever a taser is needed. Beginning Friday, paramedics will also help subdue people who could be tasered. This new policy is an effort to prevent deaths from excited delirium. Exited delirium can happen when... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Tuesday 21 February

Carbon Monoxide Keeps the Meat Red (06:06) - Have you ever noticed how you steaks or hamburger meat start to turn brown or gray soon after you open the wrapping? However, the meat industry has an answer that's causing quite a stir among consumer advocates. They are treating... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Monday 20 February

Medical Device Approved in Spite of FDA Objection (09:49) - According to an article in the NY Times, "A top federal medical official overruled the unanimous opinion of his scientific staff when he decided last year to approve a pacemaker-like device to treat persistent depression, a Senate committee reported Thursday.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Medtronic Continued Selling Defibrillators in Spite of Failures (09:10) - Medtronic Inc. continued selling flawed cardiac defibrillators for two years after learning that some of them may suddenly quit working, according to company documents filed in a California lawsuit.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Early Morning Fog a Hazard to Florida Drivers (09:04) - The late winter/early spring in central Florida brings snowbirds and visitors alike to Florida for vacations and spring break. It also brings a rash of early morning car crashes. The combination of early morning fog, slick roads, and drivers new... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Sunday 19 February

Will New Brake Lights Lead to Fewer Car Accidents? (10:54) - In January, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the U.S. subsidiary of the German luxury car company a temporary exemption from U.S. automobile safety standards, allowing it to sell as many as 5,000 vehicles over the next two years that... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Kava Kava Feels Good but May Produce Harmful Consequences (10:46) - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary supplements. Kava (Piper methysticum) is a plant indigenous to the islands in the South Pacific where... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
FDA to Put Warning on Ortho Evra (10:42) - The FDA will put a new warning on the Ortho Evra birth control patch in order to warn consumers and healthcare professionals that users may be at a much greater risk of blood clots when using the patch. Dr. Daniel... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
In Wake of Taser Controversy, Manufacturer Opts for Shotgun Approach (10:38) - With public uproar over taser misuse growing by the day, Taser International, the manufacturer of the controversial stun gun weapon is developing a new product line- a Taser shot gun The nation's largest stun-gun manufacturer has found a new way... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Friday 17 February

Guidant Offer to Fix Heart Stent is Inadquate (09:20) - Guidant Corp.'s program to pay $2,500 to patients to replace a heart device that has had malfunctions is nowhere near sufficient to cover costs of the procedure. The offer covers only about 10% of the cost of the replacement procedure.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Website My Space fun for Kids but a Boon for Predators (08:55) - The popular social networking website My Space, has experienced unprecedented growth in recent months. Kids and teens spend hours browsing the website talking to friends and meeting new ones. However, parents must be aware that sexual predators are using the... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Ortho Evra Patch Maker Says Blood Clot Risk Doubles with Birth Control Patch (08:49) - Women who use the Ortho Evra birth-control patch face twice the risk of developing blood clots as those who take the Pill, the patch's manufacturer said late Thursday, citing recent company-funded research. The finding comes from one of two studies... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Thursday 16 February

Colorado Set to Open Up Sex Abuse Statute of Limitations (09:18) - Having passed a Senate committee by a 5-1 vote, the full Colorado Senate will hear testimony concerning opening up the statute of limitations regarding sexual abuse of minors. The legislation is strongly opposed by the Colorado Catholic Conference. Archbishop Chaput... | 0 Comments
Florida Legislature Considering Raising Driver Age Limit (09:14) - The Florida Legislature is considering raising the minimum driving age from 16 to 17 years old. Citing the high incidence of crashes for 16 year olds, HB 975 would raise the age one year.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
FDA Places New Restrictions on Guidant (09:10) - New limits imposed by the FDA on Guidant, maker of an implantable heart defibrillator found to be defective, will make it difficult for new products made by the company to be approved for commercial sale, as the agency applies pressure... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Canadian Cop Charged in Taser Incident (09:05) - An Edmonton cop, who was once hailed as a hero for saving a man from a burning building, has been charged with assault after a teen was allegedly Tasered while in a police cellblock.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Wednesday 15 February

Colorado Catholic Conference Grasping at Straws (08:37) - When lawyers for the Colorado bishops came before a Senate committee hearing a bill that would open a 2 year window on the sexual abuse statute of limitations, their arguments grew more desperate as the testimony wore on. At one... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
FDA: Certain Parkinson's Drugs Lead to Greater Risk of Gambling (08:34) - The FDA is reporting that certain drugs used to treat tremors associated with Parkinson's disease actually increase the risk of pathological gambling. The latest results are consistent with earlier observations and add to evidence that Parkinson's drugs may lead to... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Tuesday 14 February

"Black Box" Drug Warnings Often Ignored by Healthcare Providers (14:58) - In a Wall St. Journal article published today, many patients are told to use drugs with black box warning in spite of these drugs being unsuitable for them.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Colorado Sex Abuse Victims Plead Their Case and Win (09:30) - In more than 7 and a half hours of emotionally draining testimony from victims of sexual abuse, the Colorado Senate State Affairs Committee voted 5-1 to allow sexual abuse victims to pursue justice in the courtroom. The bill will now... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Family Deals With Life After Taser (09:17) - The following story ran in The Globe and Mail newspaper: Samantha Foldi faces life as a widow from her wheelchair. For nearly 10 years, since a car accident left her partially paralyzed, she relied on her husband Jim for so... | 0 Trackbacks | 1 Comments

Monday 13 February

Taser Found to Be 39 Times More Powerful than Manufacturer Claims! (11:04) - In an article reported this morning in the Arizona Republic, a study measuring electric shocks from a Taser stun gun found that it was 39 times more powerful than the manufacturer claimed, raising new questions about the weapon's safety. The... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Sunday 12 February

New Seat Belt Law in Florida (15:21) - It's been a little less than two months since a new, but little publicized seat belt law went into effect in Florida. The new law allows police officers to stop drivers and occupants of vehicles who are not using seat... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
FDA Official Says Vioxx Maker Merck Had Plenty of Time to Warn Patients of Danger (15:15) - Merck could have immediately warned Vioxx patients that the drug might cause an increased risk of heart attacks rather than waiting two years before issuing a warning, according to a former FDA official.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Saturday 11 February

Arbishop Chaput on a Crusade to Protect the Church not the Victims of Sexual Abuse (12:21) - Archbishop Chaput, head of the Archdiocese of Denver, has mounted an all-out assault on sexual abuse victims and their quest for justice. The Colorado legislature will hear Senate bill 143 on Monday that proposes lifting the statute of limitations for... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Chicago Priest Indicted on 3 Counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (12:02) - Rev. Daniel McCormack, a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, was indicted on three sexual abuse charges Friday. The priest is scheduled to be arraigned on March 1st. One count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse carries with it a maximum... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Former Cop to Plead Guilty to Illegal Use of Taser (10:14) - A former Escambia County deputy accused of illegally shocking a Pensacola woman with a Taser stun gun is expected to plead guilty next week, federal court documents show.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Health Experts: FDA Oversight Needs to be More Open and Transparent (09:56) - The chairman of an outside committee of medical experts that advises the Food and Drug Administration on drug-safety issues said Friday the agency's own drug-safety oversight board needed to be more open and transparent. The chairman of the committee recommended... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Friday 10 February

The Effects of Aging on Your Ability to Drive (06:12) - I've lived in Florida now for more than 25 years. One thing you notice quickly here besides the weather is the number of elderly drivers. According to 2002-03 statistics, there were almost 15 million drivers in the state of Florida.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
FDA Panel Recommends Black Box Warning for Certain ADHD Drugs (06:06) - In a surprise move, a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted to recommend that stimulant drugs widely prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder carry strong "black box" warnings about potential cardiovascular risks.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
16 Year Old With Learner's Permit Dies in Fiery Crash (05:57) - By the time Ocoee Florida police Sgt. William Wagner had looked in his rearview mirror after calling off a high speed pursuit, all he could see was a fiery explosion.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Guidant CEO to Receive $1.5Million Bonus. . . For What? (05:52) - Guidant's chief executive will receive a $1.5 million bonus after the acquisition by Boston Scientific is complete, according to documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Since June, Guidant has recalled or issued safety advisories on about 88,000... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
British University Warns Against Tasers (05:49) - A British university is warning of the dangers of electric stun guns that will be trialled in New Zealand later this year. Police officers will be armed with taser guns, which cause temporary paralysis and are designed to be used... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Thursday 9 February

A Bishop Speaks about Sexual Abuse (12:30) - Bishop Joseph Imesch, soon to be retired bishop of Joliet Illinois, spoke out (sort of, he was compelled to testify under oath in a deposition) on the sexual abuse of a 14 year old girl by one of his priests.... | 0 Comments
FDA Warns Doctors About Trasylol (12:25) - The FDA has issued a warning to doctors and patients about the adverse risks associated with the Bayer drug Trasylol. The drug is used to control bleeding in such surgical procedures as heart bypass surgery. The FDA highlighted two studies... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Colorado Legislature to Hear Victims' of Sex Abuse (06:39) - The Colorado legislature will hear statements from victims concerning sexual abuse and how that abuse has impacted their lives. The hearings will be held Monday, February 13, 2006 in the state capitol. Colorado is cosidering opening a window on its... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Georgia Legislature Mandates Stun Gun Training (06:32) - Police agencies in Georgia that use Taser stun guns would have to make sure their officers know how to use them properly under a bill passed overwhelmingly by the House on Wednesday. The legislation, which cleared the lower chamber 162-1... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Wednesday 8 February

Gary Diocese Defends Not Investigating Fr. Daniel McCormack (06:05) - Before Fr. Daniel McCormack was ever accused of sexual abuse of a minor, he concelebrated mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Crown Point, located in the Diocese of Gary Indiana.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
SUV's Safer? Think Again! (05:55) - Sponsored by Partners for Child Passenger Safety, a new study led by Dr. Dennis Durbin determined that SUVs are no more safe than cars in the protection they afford children, due to their increased rollover rate.... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Amnesty International Reports 103 Taser Deaths (05:46) - Amnesty International is reporting that 103 deaths are related to the Taser stun gun. Additionally, the human rights group says there is widespread abuse of the weapon that in some cases "constitutes ill-treatment and torture."... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Tuesday 7 February

St. Pete Roof Collapse Reveals Cracks in Inspection System (21:03) - When the torrential rain came pouring down in Tampa Bay last Friday, few thought that a Bed, Bath, and Beyond roof would collapse. According to an article in the St. Pete Times, a contractor got a permit to put a... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Cardinal George Moving Swiftly to Shut Barn Door (09:39) - In an apparent move to not lose face with his flock, Francis Cardinal George is moving swiftly to make a subtle yet important change to the Archdiocesan abuse policy. In response to the mounting allegations of abuse against Rev. Daniel... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Monday 6 February

Top Legion Priest Cleared by Vatican (09:21) - Rev. Marcial Maciel , the controversial founder of the Legionaries of Christ, has been cleared of sexual abuse allegations by the Vatican. The investigation had been delayed during the latter part of Pope John Paul's pontificate only to be re-started... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Grand Jury: Don't Taser Kids (09:16) - "Police should not use Taser stun guns to subdue children," a Miami-Dade grand jury has stated. However, they didn't propose an outright ban on the weapon. Taser stun guns emit 500 volts of electricity which incapacitates the victim. There are... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
You've Been in an Auto Accident, Now What? (01:16) - You've just been in a car crash. You're climbing out of your car and no one appears seriously injured in either vehicle. What should you do now? Call for emergency help. If possible, take notes of the exact location and... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Sunday 5 February

Boston Scientific's Mea Culpa (10:05) - Now that Boston Scientific, the maker of medical devices, has been publicly chastised by the FDA, its executives have taken a penitential tone. "It's clear we have not done enough to resolve the issues raised by the F.D.A., "a spokesman,... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Archdiocese of Miami Turns on Abuse Victim (09:51) - In a hardball public relations maneuver, the Archdiocese of Miami released a statement concerning the sexual abuse of a minor dating back to the 1970's in which the Archdiocese argued that damages to the victim were caused in whole or... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Nashville Man Tasered by Police 19 Times, Dies (06:11) - Last year, a Nashville man was tasered by police a total of 19 times! Not surprisingly, he later died. In spite of this, more police officers will receive taser weapons after a scant 4 hours of training. It seems to... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Propofol Infusion Syndrome and Heart Failure (01:28) - Propofol , distributed by Astra Zenica, is used for general anesthesia during surgery, sedation, and reduction of intracranial pressure in head injury patients. Propofol administration has been associated with the development of propofol-infusion syndrome in pediatric and adult patients. The... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Bishop Imesch Admits to Protecting Priest Sex Abuser (01:15) - Bishop Joseph Imesch of Joiliet Illinois admitted in a 2005 deposition that a sexually abusive priest had confided to him that he had sexually abused an altar boy. Imesch didn't feel an obligation to tell authorities about the priest in... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Saturday 4 February

California Coroner Calls Taser a Factor in Death (11:58) - For the first time in Santa Clara County, California, a coroner has determined that a Taser gun factored in a man's death. Dr. Christopher Happy concluded that "a contributory cause of death was post tasering and pepper-spraying."... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Boating Fatalities on Increase in Florida (10:36) - While the rest of the country is seeing fatalities on the water decrease, Florida is experiencing a sharp increase in such deaths. In 2005 alone, the state has recorded 71 boating deaths. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, the... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Florida Auto Insurance (10:28) - In their newsletter, AAA has some very good tips all Florida car owners should have at their fingertips. Most people do not understand what coverages they purchased and what they need for their current risks (i.e., value of car they... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Colorado Legislative Committee Eliminates Time Limit for Sex Crimes (10:22) - A legislative committee agreed Thursday to eliminate the criminal and civil statute of limitation for sex crimes following powerful testimony from sex abuse victims, including a former Miss America. The House Judiciary Committee approved the measure (House Bill 1088) unanimously... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Florida Trucker Had Little Sleep Before Crash (10:13) - The truck driver had little sleep in the 34 hours prior to the fiery crash that killed 7 children in Lake Butler Florida on January 25. According to National Transportation Safety Board investigator, David Rayburn, "Except for a short nap,... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Friday 3 February

Boating Accident Deaths Not Highest In Florida? (11:39) - After Tampa's Gasparilla's Pirate Festival Floatilla in Hillsborough Bay last week, you would think that Florida (and maybe even Tampa) might be a strong contender for Boat Accident Death capitol of the United States. But thanks to an enlightening post... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
75 year old Madeira Beach Man Tasered 3 Times by Deputies (07:21) - In a story that ran today in the St. Petersburg Times, a 75 year old man who is blind in one eye was tasered three times by Pinellas County deputies in December 2005. The deputies had been summoned to the... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

Thursday 2 February

Ex-Vatican Official Wanted by Police on Sex Abuse Charges (10:42) - Ontario police have issued an arrest warrant for Monsignor Bernard Prince, 71, former secretary general for the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith and a friend of the late Pope John Paul II. The warrant stems from allegations... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Rear Impact Auto Accidents Can Cause Serious Injury (08:53) - Statistics tell us that 770 Americans out of 100,000 will be injured in a rear impact auto crash this year. While insurance companies equate minor vehicle damage with minor bodily injury, medical evidence doesn't bear this out. It is very... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments
Big Pharmaceutical Companies (08:25) - When the FDA approved new rules making pharmaceutical companies provide clearer labeling and detailed warnings about their drug products, they also slipped in a second rule change that is both ridiculous in its scope and profoundly anti-consumer. This new rule... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments