South Carolina Lawyer Blog

South Carolina military veterans can now get a special “VETERAN” designation on their driver licenses and permits.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles launched the new program in September.

According to a department press release:

“The Governor and the Legislature joined forces to acknowledge the service of our veterans,” said [DMV] Executive Director Kevin Shwedo. “Our veterans have done their part serving our country and it’s only right that we should honor them. I’m proud that we can offer this service and I hope they will take advantage of it.”

The VETERAN designation applies only to individuals who served honorably as members of the United States Armed Forces. To apply, veterans must present their Form DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), which indicates an honorable discharge. No other proof of service will be accepted. Military dependents, spouses or civilian employees on military bases are not eligible.

The cost to add the VETERAN designation to a driver license, identification card or beginner permit is $1.00.

Veterans applying for the designation can visit any DMV office statewide.

The Louthian Law Firm is pleased to support the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces.
Free Consultation With A Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer

Are you a veteran who has been in an automobile accident? Do you have a question about your legal rights? Get a free case evaluation from an experienced South Carolina motor vehicle lawyer. Call 888-616-4339 or use this online form. The call is confidential and toll free.

Source: South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles

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A low country pain clinic was one of the healthcare facilities that received a batch of tainted steroids linked to the deadly meningitis outbreak.

Intervene MD, with locations in Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, posted the following on its blog:

“Unfortunately, our practice was one of those provided medications from the manufacturer [New England Compounding Center]. We were notified by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) on Friday, September 21st that we had received suspect medicines from lots produced between July 31 and September 16. We immediately removed all vials of the medication from use and returned them to the manufacturer.

“Because we are concerned, we have made every effort to determine each and every patient who may have received epidural treatment with this medication. We have personally spoken with almost all of the 189 people affected. We continue to call and work to get in touch with each person who received this medication by epidural injection. There are a few patients we’ve not been able to reach by telephone, despite multiple attempts, and we are sending follow-up letters that detail signs and symptoms to watch for until the possibility of illness passes. Each person has been asked to seek immediate emergency treatment if they have any symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this illness takes from one week to one month following exposure to develop.

“It is a relief that none of our patients are showing any signs or symptoms of meningitis. Two — at our urging — have gone to the emergency room for further examination. Tests determined that they do not have meningitis.

“We have been and continue to be available to speak with our patients. We invite them to phone us with any questions, issues or anxiety. We are providing medical counseling and following all CDC recommendations.

“We urge anyone who has recently had epidural treatment for back pain to contact their doctor. If you are our patient and have questions, we want you to call us. Epidural steroid injections for the management of pain have been used for many years and have relieved pain in thousands. This treatment has allowed many individuals to experience an improved quality of life and be more productive.”

If you or a loved one has been directly affected by the meningitis crisis, the South Carolina drug injury lawyers at the Louthian Law Firm in Columbia are available to answer legal questions about your rights and options.

Meanwhile, the first of an anticipated wave of lawsuits over the fatal outbreak was filed October 11 in Minnesota.

According to Reuters news:

“The lawsuit [Barbe Puro v. New England Compounding Pharmacy Inc, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, No. 12-2605] was filed in a Minnesota federal court on Thursday by a woman who said she was given a steroid injection for back pain and has experienced symptoms consistent with meningitis. She is awaiting the results of tests.”

The number of people nationwide who have contracted meningitis from an injection of tainted steroids had exceeded 215 as of October 15. More than a dozen have died.

View an infection map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here.

Patients who received a steroid injection at Intervene MD between July and September 2012 are urged to contact a healthcare provider immediately.

View a CDC map of all affected healthcare facilities here.

Get Answers From A South Carolina Drug Injury Lawyer

The Columbia drug accident attorneys of the Louthian Law Firm are available to evaluate cases of injury or death in light of the meningitis outbreak. If you or a loved one received a steroid injection for back pain between July and September 2012, you should first seek medical attention. Once you have done that, our dedicated pharmaceutical attorneys are available to discuss your legal options. Call us today at 888-616-4339. The call is confidential and toll free.

Researchers have uncovered a possible link between a common drug used to treat diabetes and an increased risk of vision problems, according to a HealthDay report. According to the study, which first appeared in the online edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine, users of thiazolidinediones may be two or three times more at risk of a serious problem with their vision, called macular edema. Macular edema, according to the National Eye Institute, is a condition in which fluid leaks into the macula, or the part of the eye where sharp, straight-ahead vision happens. The fluid then makes this part of the eye swell, which causes blurry vision.

This means more trouble for users of Actos, Avandia and similar drugs, since thiazolidinediones are in both Avandia and Actos, and are used to help control blood sugar in people with diabetes. We’ve written before about the bladder cancer risk linked to Actos, and the HealthDay report mentions the links between Avandia and serious risks of heart problems.

For the study, which was carried out in England, lead researcher Dr. Iskandar Idris and his team looked at data from more than 100,000 people with type 2 diabetes. At the start of the study, none of those 100,000 people had macular edema. After one year, however, diabetes patients in the study who were taking Actos, Avandia, or other thiazolidinediones developed the eye problem more than six times as often as the diabetes patients who didn’t take those drugs.

According to researchers, about 20 percent of people with diabetes suffer from macular edema, which is one sign of a serious vision illness. An editorial that appeared with the study in the Archives of Internal Medicine said that the study adds to a growing concern about the possibility of drugs like Avandia or Actos causing fluid buildup in the eyes of people who use the drugs. Dr. Sonal Singh, who co-wrote the editorial, said diabetes patients who take Avandia or Actos should see an eye doctor promptly if they experience visual symptoms.

Contact Our South Carolina Prescription Drug Injury Lawyers Today
Prescription drug injuries can be very serious. In many cases, medical professionals may not realize that a patient's illness was caused by a drug, causing them to lose precious treatment time. Indeed, the causes of some prescription drug injuries may not be apparent until months or years later, when independent scientists discover problems with the drug. Some of the most serious injuries caused by recently discredited prescription drugs include heart attacks and myocardial infarction, heightened or lowered blood pressure, blood clots, rapid changes in blood sugar and other potentially fatal conditions.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed by an unsafe prescription drug, contact the South Carolina personal injury attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm today. Call toll free at 888-662-9821 or locally at 803-454-1200 or use our online for a free evaluation of your case.