The common air pollutant benzene has been the subject of a recent study in Texas. It seems that women who live in Texas neighborhoods that have higher levels of benzene due to refineries and automobile exhaust have been found to have a higher chance of giving birth to babies with a serious neurological birth defect. Benzene has long been known to be highly toxic and related to cancer and immune system damage. This new study performed by a team of researchers from the University of Texas School of Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services has linked benzene for the first time to a birth defect that proves in more than one way that air pollution can cause harm to a fetus. The results of this study show that pregnant women exposed to high levels of benzene had up to a two times greater risk of giving…
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Birth Injury and Cerebral Palsy Attorneys Home
Birth Defect Caused by Air?
January 3, 2011Autism Scare Leads to Reduced Vaccination Rates
December 31, 2010When families who have health insurance and can afford whatever medical care is needed for their children are choosing not to have their children vaccinated you have to wonder why. Why would parents choose not to protect their children from possibly deadly diseases? Apparently the fear of a relationship between autism and vaccines has convinced them that it is best not to get their children vaccinated. Observational evidence has shown that sometimes a child gets vaccinated and shortly afterward autism symptoms are noticed. The cause and effect is understandable, but scientists report that this is more than likely a coincidence of the stages of childhood development coinciding with the vaccinations. Repeated and exhaustive studies have shown no real link between autism and childhood vaccinations. With nearly all U.S. school systems requiring certain immunizations before children can be enrolled in school this leaves us wondering whether the compliance that is seen…
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Allergan Settles on Botox Case
December 29, 2010Allergan, Inc. has admitted to attempting to market and sell Botox for unapproved uses. There has been a criminal investigation into Allergan’s marketing activities for the product Botox. Prosecutors report that the marketing was aimed at increasing off label sales as a treatment for headaches, spasticity, pain and cerebral palsy. Based on the allegations within the lawsuit, as a part of their shady marketing practices the company trained doctors how to bill for using Botox for unapproved uses and set up a Reimbursement hotline to help doctors get reimbursed for using Botox for unapproved uses. The settlement of the investigation includes an admission of guilt by Allergan, Inc. a criminal fine of $375 million and a $225 million civil settlement to the federal government. The civil settlement resolves the allegations that Botox has induced doctors to trick the government into paying for the use of Botox for non-sanctioned uses. The…
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