When Hurricane Irma struck south Florida as a category 4 storm in 2017, it caused a widespread power outage that impacted over 6.8 million people. The impact of that outage was devasting for people sweltering in the Florida heat, but those most tragically impacted were nursing home residents in facilities that had failed to ensure they had backup generators in working condition and other safety features that are critical to the health and wellbeing of…

In September 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to consumers: “Watch out for unapproved stem cell therapies!” The warning comes from the agency in response to the mounting concern of patients seeking cures and pain remedies who are vulnerable to stem cell treatments that are illegal and potentially harmful. Stem cell therapy has gained a reputation for serving as a miracle treatment for repairing diseased tissue, purportedly healing ailments from…

Millions of Americans rely on ranitidine, popularly known by its brand name Zantac, for treating their heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms. Yet the Food and Drug Administration has recently demanded that all ranitidine products be removed from the market immediately. This recall follows an ongoing investigation into levels of an environmental contaminant found in ranitidine. The contaminant, N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), has been proven to increase in ranitidine products over time when stored above room temperature.…

On April 1, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the removal of all ranitidine products, including those sold under the brand name Zantac. The request was issued after sources found unhealthy levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in some ranitidine products. NDMA is classified as a possible carcinogenic by several organizations, including the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, individuals who have taken Zantac or…

In early April, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis asking for conditional immunity against liability for organizations providing COVID-19 related treatment. While granting this protection may allow Florida nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and health professionals to make hard decisions in a difficult time, filling this request could come at the cost of your loved one’s safety. The FHCA represents 600 of the 700 long-term care facilities in…

In early April, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis asking for conditional immunity against liability for organizations providing COVID-19 related treatment. While granting this protection may allow Florida nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and health professionals to make hard decisions in a difficult time, filling this request could come at the cost of your loved one’s safety. The FHCA represents 600 of the 700 long-term care facilities in…

If you have loved ones who are residents of a nursing home or assisted living facility, the COVID-19 crisis could be causing you and your family to worry. Nursing home facility residents are some of the most vulnerable to the coronavirus and the current information on the outbreak may be limited. Since visitation has been cut off, checking in on your loved ones has become more difficult. However, you are still entitled to know the …