New York City Liability Defense Legal Blog

A number of medication errors in New York occur because of drug names that sound close enough to one another to be easily confused. For this reason, according to the American Society of Hematology, drug manufacturers take great care to avoid giving new medications names that are too similar to existing medications in spelling or phonetics. If a proposed name is too close to that of an existing pharmaceutical, the regulators may require the manufacturers to change it. 

However, this is only one of a number of rules that govern what name a drug manufacturer can give a new medication. National nomenclature committees under the onus of the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association have the final say in the matter, and those organizations place significant emphasis upon the clarity of medication names. For this reason, they may adjust the spelling so it is easier to spell and pronounce. Thus, because it is easier to figure out how to pronounce "alfa" than "alpha," a pharmaceutical with the Greek root word in its name may see its spelling revised. 

Security companies are often hired by property owners and others to ensure a safe environment. When issues occur, third parties incurring injuries or property damage may file suit, both against the security company as well as any owners of the property. HG.org explains how negligent security is proven in order for a person to have a successful case. 

While it's true that crime and emergencies can happen anywhere, an incident that causes harm to others isn't sufficient grounds for a lawsuit. What must be proven with negligent security claims is that property owners or others were aware of the potential for criminal wrongdoing and failed to enact the proper protections. This goes back to the tenet of reasonable care. It must be shown that reasonable care was not taken to safeguard people occupying a property.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for approving medication. When medication is approved, it's for a specific therapeutic benefit. For example, medication can be approved to treat high blood pressure, seizures, or depression. Some medicines are approved for one thing but later found to be beneficial in some other aspect. This is what's known as off-label use. According to WebMD, the practice is quite common. However, it's not without its risks. 

Numerous drugs are prescribed in this manner. For example, people suffering from chronic pain are often provided medicine traditionally used to treat depression and anxiety. Certain cancer drugs are frequently used off-label, as many of these drugs are originally designed to treat one type of cancer but are found to be successful at treating others. Medications used to treat high blood pressure can also be used to treat heart disease or even prevent heart failure in some patients. 

A concern of many business owners in New York that often goes unrealized by the busy patron is keeping their premises safe and free of hazards that could accidentally injure their customers. Often, companies spend time throughout the day monitoring their premises to make sure that hazards are dealt with in a timely manner before they turn into risks. 

Unfortunately, there are times when the carelessness of a customer can contribute to an accident in which he or she is injured. During these situations, it is not uncommon for the company to be investigated as authorities try to reach the bottom of what has happened. In these circumstances, companies may have to defend their position and provide evidence that the accident was not in fact, their fault.