Massive opioid settlement

Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson agrees to pay fine

New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella reached a settlement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson to settle the state’s opioid claims against the company.
The company has agreed to pay $40.5 million, of which $31.5 million will be used for opioid abatement purposes.
In 2018, the AG alleged that Johnson & Johnson aggressively marketed their opioids to prescribers and patients in New Hampshire and misrepresented that their opioids were safer than other alternatives.
It was further alleged that they disseminated misleading statements about opioids, that they promoted the false concept of pseudoaddiction, and that they misrepresented that their opioids were rarely addictive when used for chronic pain.

Court rules union can’t force OSHA to enforce COVID rules

A U.S. appeals court ruled workplace safety regulators cannot be forced to adopt a permanent rule requiring healthcare employers to take various steps to protect workers from COVID.
A unanimous three-judge panel said it did not have the power to order the OSHA to engage in rulemaking, because OSHA could ultimately determine that a COVID-19 rule is unnecessary.
The AFL-CIO, National Nurses United, and other major unions had sued OSHA after it allowed a temporary rule for healthcare employers to lapse.
OSHA adopted an emergency temporary standard, which required healthcare employers to screen patients and visitors for COVID-19, provide protective equipment and impose social distancing, among other steps.

California worker falls down 15-story shaft

A construction worker died after falling down a shaft at a 15-story office building in downtown Palo Alto, according to police.
The worker was then taken to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office identified the worker as Christopher Paul Smith, 43, of Antioch, Calif.
The California Division of OSHA is investigating the circumstances of the death, as is standard in any industrial fatality, according to police.

No more shortage for N95 respirators

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the removal of N95 respirators from the agency’s medical device shortage list.
The demand or projected demand for this type of face protection device commonly used in health care settings no longer exceeds the supply.
This action is the result of increased domestic manufacturing of N95 respirators, as well as updates to the FDA’s supply chain assessment based on engagement with industry and federal stakeholders.
The FDA is required by law to maintain a device shortage list to provide transparency to the American public