Month: April 2018
North Carolina says Chemours Company leaked chemical for years
An investigation by North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality found evidence that Chemours Company has, for years, allowed a chemical nicknamed GenX to leak into the state’s air and water. Chemours is formerly a part of DuPont, and the agency alleges both companies actively misled the State about the leaks and their dangers. The State
Tennessee nursing homes still failing to make the grade
A recent report reveals that dozens of Tennessee nursing homes are failing to adequately provide for and protect their vulnerable residents. A Shelbyville nursing home in particular, Glen Oaks Health and Rehabilitation, had previously been accused of providing “grossly substandard and/or worthless care” to its patients. Federal regulators at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
JAMA: Drugged-driving fatalities rise by about 12 percent on 4/20
April 20 is a countercultural holiday for marijuana smokers, even in states where cannabis is illegal. The holiday may seem relatively harmless, but it comes at a serious cost: an increase in fatal crashes. According to a recent research letter in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the nationwide fatal accident rate is approximately 12 percent higher between 4:20
4 top pain docs named as defendants in opioid crisis lawsuits
Opioid overdoses are a national health crisis, and local governments are taking steps to hold someone accountable. Over 450 lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts by cities and counties across the nation. Most of those lawsuits accuse the five main manufacturers of opioid pain medications of instigating the crisis with false claims
Study: Ignition interlocks do reduce fatal drunk driving crashes
In Tennessee, people who are convicted of DUI offenses are typically required to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle — at their own expense. These devices are a bit like Breathalyzers and won’t allow the vehicle to start until the driver provides a clean breath sample. Installation, maintenance and removal all have
Coffee and health concerns: what to know about your cup of joe
Countless Americans rely on coffee to get through the day. For years, there have been conflicting reports about the health benefits and risks of doing this. One recent, headline-making view is that coffee contains carcinogens. There is also evidence, however, that coffee helps protect against cancer and has other health benefits. So, does coffee pose
Tennessee mulls ending criminal penalties for blood test refusal
The Tennessee legislature is considering changing the state’s implied consent law, which requires drivers to provide breath or blood samples when suspected of DUI. You can lawfully refuse the test, but there are consequences. For a first offense, your driver’s license will be revoked for a year. Revocation of your license may be inconvenient, but
Actor to be resentenced in DUI manslaughter case
Amy Locane, who performed in 13 episodes of the popular TV series “Melrose Place” and who has appeared in several films, was arrested for vehicular manslaughter after a fatal 2010 car crash in New Jersey. The indictment charging her did not specifically mention alcohol intoxication, but a prosecution witness testified that she was likely at