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Columnist With Parkinson’s Urges Keeping Ban on Device Suits

The Wall Street Journal, May 12, 2009, 4:59 PM ET
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/05/...its/tab/print/

Columnist Michael Kinsley, a former star with the New Republic, CrossFire and Slate, announced years a few years back that he had developed Parkinson’s disease. In a bittersweet moment, Kinsley today came to the House Energy and Commerce Committee to testify about what he considers the wonders of a device implanted in him — Medtronic’s Activa brain stimulator.
Kinsley has frequently inveighed against what he thinks are junk lawsuits, greedy plaintiffs, lucre-driven tort lawyers, foolish judges and dumb juries — making him a perfect witness for the medical-device industry, which recruited him. The industry is worried about the possibility of product-liability lawsuits on many products; such suits currently prohibited by the Supreme Court’s ruling in Medtronic v. Riegel last year. See our previous post for more background.



How To Build A Bigger Brain

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound; Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Medical News Today, Article Date: 13 May 2009 - 2:00 PDT
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149803.php

Push-ups, crunches, gyms, personal trainers people have many strategies for building bigger muscles and stronger bones. But what can one do to build a bigger brain?

Meditate.

IF it weren't for my DBS, I'd probably be dead by now. I have NO doubt that this is true.
WWhile I am sorry for those who's DBS has gone poorly, THe over-whelming
percentage of DBS'er's are quite happy with theirs. Curently the best surgeons enjoy a 95%-98% success rate. THe weak liink in the process is programming, which is something that can be fixed.
It is no longer a treatment of "last resort". It has been proven to be better than drug treatments. Medtronic will have NO shortage of willing testimonials if they should ever be sued for a faulty device!!
IT is a "mature" treatment.

Charlie

Charlie, I found a The Washington Post article that has his email address if you would like to share your thoughts personally:

Michael Kinsley It is a form page/email.

I found it with this article:
Life After Newspapers

I hope Kinsley is using his fee from Medtronic to help patients damaged by a faulty DBS procedure.

DBS has its successes and failures. If the failure in any individual instance is due to a faulty Medtronic product, then the patient should be allowed to sue.

I can't believe anyone would want to deny this right to another.

Alarm Sounded On Social Security

Report Also Warns Of Medicare Collapse

By Amy Goldstein, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, May 13, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...051200252.html

The financial health of the Social Security system has eroded more sharply in the past year than at any time since the mid-1990s, according to a government forecast that ratchets up pressure on the Obama administration and Congress to stabilize the retirement system that keeps many older Americans out of poverty.

Medtronic does an outstanding job of quality control. I know of only one premature batterey failure. OF course if MEdtronic is a fault they should be liable, but it is grey area as to who's at fault, Medtronic or the installing surgeon. I fear the "baby being thrown out with the bath water", in a liability suite.
DBS works, and works well. The surgeons experience is tremendously important for a good outcome.
It'a just a question of time til someone sues over well known DBS complications such as speech. Even though this is a side effect that is a result of lead placement.

doing without my DBS is a frightening thought!

Charlie

This is big Pharma/BioTech bullying at its best. Why should medical devices get a free pass when drugs don't? DBS wasn't even required to go through an FDA double blinded clinical trial.

This is all about citizens' rights to be protected vs corporate profits. Your DBS is not at stake; only Medtronic's profit margin.