fungal meningitis

Special grand jury to look into meningitis deaths in Michigan

Mark Brush — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:57:54 +0000

MPRN's Rick Pluta reports:

The Michigan Court of Appeals will seat a special grand jury to look into fungal meningitis deaths and injuries linked to a compound made by Massachusetts pharmaceutical company.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette requested the grand jury to investigate how tainted steroids made by the New England Compounding Center came to be sold in Michigan.

Michigan was hit hardest by the nationwide spread of the tainted steroid injections.

On a list that was last updated on April 8, the CDC shows 733 tainted steroid injection cases nationwide (including 53 deaths). Michigan accounts for 259 of those cases (including 15 deaths). This list was last updated on April 8. More deaths have occurred since then.

The following is a statement from Attorney General Schuette:

"Hundreds of Michigan citizens and their families have endured terrible pain and deaths of loved ones suffering from illnesses caused by these tainted steroid injections," said Schuette. "This investigation is necessary uncover the truth as to how this unspeakable tragedy happened and to restore public faith in our healthcare system."
"We will discover what went wrong, bring bad actors to justice, and then work to implement new protections to ensure tragedies like this never happen again."

Michigan Radio's Kate Wells explored the questionable practices by some doctors in Michigan who injected their patients with the tainted steroids.

From her story:

Lawyer Alyson Oliver...argues that Michigan doctors share in the blame for this epidemic, precisely because they were ordering bulk shipments of medication from a compounding center – a definite regulatory no-no.
How much is “bulk?” The Brighton Pain Clinic was able to give out some 830 injections of the contaminated drugs over just two months, according to the company’s Web site.

What's going on this morning? Detroit's officials' salaries intact, tainted steroids investigation

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:44:20 +0000

Kevyn Orr leaves salaries for Mayor Bing and City Council intact

The state's new emergency manager law, which goes into effect Thursday, eliminates salaries and benefits for elected municipal officials when an emergency manager is installed.

But as Michigan Radio’s Sarah Hulett reports, an order signed by Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr will leave the salaries of Mayor Dave Bing and the City Council members intact.

"Salaries range from more than $70,000 for council members to close to $160,000 for Mayor Dave Bing."

State Attorney General Bill Schuette calls for a grand jury investigation into meningitis outbreak

Michigan's attorney general is seeking a criminal investigation into the deaths of 17 residents from contaminated steroids supplied by a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company.

As Rick Pluta explains,

"The grand jury would have the power to compel witnesses to appear and testify, including people from the four Michigan clinics that administered the injections. And it could ask a Massachusetts court to order employees of the pharmacy that made the drug to cooperate."

Wolf hunt in Michigan may be put on hold

A group opposing the hunting of gray wolves is expected to deliver tens of thousands of petition signatures to the Secretary of State's office.

If enough of the signatures are certified, a statewide vote on the proposed wolf hunt will be placed on the ballot in 2014.

AG asks for grand jury to investigate steroid illnesses, deaths

Vincent Duffy — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:14:45 +0000

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has called for a four county grand jury investigation into contaminated steroids linked to hundreds of cases of illness and 14 deaths in the state. Schuette filed the request today with the Michigan Court of Appeals.

17th death reported in Michigan linked to steroid injections

The Associated Press — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:40:28 +0000

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Michigan health officials say an 80-year-old Traverse City-area man is 17th person from the state to die as a result of contaminated steroids supplied by a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company.

The Michigan Department of Community Health says at least 258 people have contracted illnesses including fungal meningitis that are part of a national disease outbreak. That's up from 256 March 4.

The department said Monday that it's now confirmed a Grand Traverse County man's death.

7 new infections in Michigan from tainted steroid injections

The Associated Press — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:02:00 +0000

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan health officials are reporting seven more infections linked to contaminated steroids supplied by a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company.

The Michigan Department of Community Health said Monday that at least 256 people have contracted illnesses including fungal meningitis that are part of a national disease outbreak. That's up from 249 two weeks earlier.

The total includes three Michigan residents treated in Indiana and listed in that state's count.

The Michigan agency says 16 people have died in the outbreak.

It reports 68 cases of fungal meningitis, 161 epidural abscesses, one stroke and 26 peripheral joint infections in Michigan tied to the steroids. They're injected to treat neck and back pain.