We now know Apple are slowing down batteries to “prolong lifespan” and “prevent sudden shutdown” – but, is this acceptable?
When Apple admitted that their updated software is slowing down older models, many were outraged. The frequency of new models being released is far too much for some; especially when the cost of a new model can easily set you back a lot of money and equate to more than £100 a month.
For a phone!
So, is Apple’s explanation that they introduced the feature for the iPhone 6 and later models to protect problems occurring with batteries acceptable?
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All hormonal contraception like ‘the pill’ can still increase breast cancer risks
It has been reportedly known for a while that forms of hormonal contraception like ‘the pill’ have been linked with increased risks of women developing breast cancer. However, despite hopes of improvements, a new study involving millions of women over a period of years has reaffirmed the apparent risks associated with contraception and cancer.
Studies have found that the increased risks of breast cancer can remain until five years after hormonal contraception has been stopped as well.
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Lab error leads to thousands of cervical screening tests being reviewed
A laboratory run by Pathology First, working on behalf of Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust, are having to redo thousands of cervical screening tests for cancer after an error was discovered.
The samples affected, which were taken between April 2016 and September 2017 for women aged between 24 and 29 who had smear tests, as well as a number of women in their 60’s, are being re-screened independently.
The results held by the lab were classed as negative, but having had some 2,500 samples re-screened, 17 women have reportedly been invited for further assessments.
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Aquilon nebulisers – CE mark withdrawn and supply ceased, but many have remained on the market
Despite withdrawal of the CE safety marking for Aquilon series of nebulisers, manufactured by AFP Medical, the nebulisers have still been placed on the market. A number of devices may have been sold despite the withdrawal of the CE marking, which means the safety of the product cannot be guaranteed.
CE safety certification is vital for consumer and supplier confidence in a product, and when it comes to medical products, such approval – or withdrawal, as is the case here – can be even more important.
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UK government investigating the scale of harm caused by vaginal mesh implants
Our legal team have been assisting people in various situations involving harm caused by vaginal mesh implants.
The UK government review update is welcome news.
Years after the UK’s Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) investigated issues and decided against recalls and bans, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has suggested the surgery should be banned, and New Zealand have become the first country in the world to put an outright ban in place.
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Will the UK follow in the footsteps of the US when it comes to group actions?
Group actions in the US – or “class actions” as they’re referred to across the pond – can consist of thousands or even millions of victims claiming for similar issues. In America, there are practically always class actions going on for all sorts of things, ranging from medical and product liability suits, to employee rights cases and data breach litigation.
Its massive over there. The question now is whether the UK is set to follow suit or not in operating in a similar way to the US.
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Birth defects reportedly caused by in-utero exposure to Epilepsy Drug
A drug that helps control epileptic seizures has been reportedly linked to birth defects and should not be used by pregnant women or women of child-bearing potential.
Depakote was created by French pharmaceutical drug company Sanofi back in 1967. The British equivalent, Epilim, has been available since 1973.
The drug has been used around the world and has gained regulatory approval for treatment of epilepsy, with variations of the drug introduced in 1995 for bipolar manic episodes, and in 1996 to prevent migraines. But, a generation later, it has been revealed the drug can cause severe birth defects at a significantly high percentage.
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Fiat Chrysler Jeep explosion sees campaigners ask for fuel tank recall to be re-investigated
In August 2017, a woman was killed when her Jeep SUV’s fuel tank combusted after she was rear-ended. The incident has raised further concerns that the 2013 recall over the Jeep’s fuel tank was not enough to protect motorists.
The victim’s 2007 Jeep was one of the 1.56 million sport utility vehicles that Fiat Chrysler agreed to install trailer hitches on to protect the fuel tanks. More than five years ago, Chrysler Group recalled 2.7 million sport-utility cars after the vulnerability was linked to the deaths of 51 people after crashes ignited fuel.
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PharmaTech LLC packs up manufacturing plant after its liquid drugs are found to be contaminated with B.Cepacia bacteria
All of PharmaTech LLC’s liquid drugs made at one manufacturing plant have been recalled, with regulators advising consumers not to use them.
Reportedly, the drugs have been contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia bacteria.
Patient infections have been linked to the drugs, meaning regulators are warning against the use of their products. Notably, this is not PharmaTech’s first brush with the law. Regulators have been involved with them three times in less than a year for similar issues involving the bacteria.
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MHRA issue “Class 4” drug alert warning for Focus Pharmaceuticals after barcode errors found on 8 medicinal products
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a Class 4 (caution in use) warning over eight Focus Pharmaceutical medicinal products after a problem was found with the barcodes.
The packaging fault may interfere with prescriptions as the wrong product may be identified when they’re scanned.
The medicines themselves have no reported faults and the rest of the packaging including the name, strength and pharmaceutical form of the medicine is correct as far as the manufacturer and the MHRA are aware.
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Regulators demands HomeoLab change manufacturing process for teething products over inconsistent levels of deadly nightshade
Regulators sent a stern letter to HomeoLab listing the problems it discovered during a recent inspection at the homeopathic pharmaceutical manufacturer’s labs. It noted the company’s “significant violations” in the way it manufacturers infant products, which included the inconsistent use of the deadly poison belladonna; commonly known as deadly nightshade.
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Suicide statistics may have allegedly been incorrectly reported in drug trials
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is currently engaged in a fierce legal battle over its antidepressant pill, Paxil (Seroxat in the U.K.).
Marketed as an antidepressant, Paxil is supposed to reduce the risk of suicide in users.
When it was first made for production, GSK conducted clinical trials to test how effective the drug was. In 1989, it presented the drug to regulators along with the results that indicated Paxil was much safer than taking a placebo.
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