Texas Tribune Daily Brief
|
| |
| Part 2: Death in Slow Motion |
 |
As detailed in an investigation by ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle, St. Luke's has performed an outsized number of heart transplants resulting in deaths or unusual complications, has lost several top physicians and has scaled back its ambition for treating high-risk patients, all the while marketing itself based on its storied past. Among St. Luke's patients who received heart transplants between mid-2014 and the end of 2016, twice as many failed to survive a year as would have been expected.
Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle & Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, Houston Chronicle 05/22/2018    |
| Read Article: Houston Chronicle |
| Doctor Refuses to Treat Paraplegic that Filed a Lawsuit Against his Son-in-Law |
|
Derrick Roberts, a paraplegic, filed a federal lawsuit against a urologist for refusing to treat him. Roberts, 39, began experiencing blood in his urine last year. Concerned doctors in Dallas referred him to Dr. Donald Wikoff, a urologist, who not only accepted Roberts' health insurance and was familiar with Roberts' type of catheter, but also had an office in Paris which was much closer to his Cooper, Texas, home. But upon arriving at Wikoff's office, Roberts said he was taken to a treatment room where the doctor told him that he had =bad news. He just got straight to the point and said he couldn't see me, Roberts continued, =and I was like why?' And he said due to the lawsuit you have against my son-in-law. Last year, Roberts was one of eight African-American co-workers who sued Sanitation Solutions of Paris last year, alleging they were racially discriminated against in the workplace. The owner of Sanitation Solutions is Dr. Wikoff's son-in-law.
Jason Whitely, WFAA.com 05/22/2018 |
| Read Article: WFAA.com |
| Teen Who Started Major OR Wildfire Must Pay $36.6M |
|
A teenager who started a major wildfire in the scenic Columbia River Gorge in Oregon has been ordered to pay restitution for at least the next decade, though it's unlikely the boy will ever cover his nearly $37 million bill. The Oregonian reports that Hood River County Circuit Judge John A. Olson issued the opinion on Monday, awarding the restitution totaling $36,618,330.24 to cover the costs of firefighting, repair and restoration to the gorge and damage to homes. Victims include the U.S. Forest Service and Oregon Department of Transportation.
Associated Press, USA Today 05/22/2018 |
| Read Article: USA Today |
| Uber Facing Engineer's Sexual Harassment Lawsuit |
|
Uber is facing a lawsuit by a former engineer who says she was sexually harassed by her co-workers at the ride-sharing company. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff was sexually harassed by employees at the company and Uber failed to address her complaints. Further, the lawsuit contends that the plaintiff was denied promotions or pay increases in retaliation for reporting misconduct at the company.
Daisuke Wakabayashi, The New York Times 05/21/2018 |
| Read Article: The New York Times |
| Uber Driver Gets 25 Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Passenger |
|
An Uber driver who was convicted of sexually assaulting a customer in her Dallas home claimed he would go on a hunger strike after he was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday. Talal Ali Chammout claimed he had consensual sex with a 27-year-old customer after driving her home. After Chammout's arrest, Uber admitted he was mistakenly allowed to drive for the company. Chammout, who had served time in federal prison on a weapons charge, was using a fake Dallas city driving permit at the time of the incident.
Tasha Tsiaperas, The Dallas Morning News 05/22/2018 |
| Read Article: The Dallas Morning News |
| Severely Injured Worker Sues Tesla |
|
A man severely burned in an electrical explosion at Tesla's car factory is suing the automaker for allegedly putting him in harm's way in order to increase productivity at the expense of human lives.Son Nguyen was working as a contractor at the Fremont, California factory on June 5, 2017 when an explosion called an arc flash threw him back 15 to 20 feet and engulfed him in flames. Nguyen's lawsuit says Tesla should have cut electricity to the equipment he was working on, but refused to because the company didn't want to temporarily stop production.
Will Evans, Reveal News, The Center for Investigative Reporting 05/22/2018 |
| Read Article: The Center for Investigative Reporting |
| When Working for the U.S. Government Is a Cancer Risk |
|
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's imposing headquarters include employees who monitor the health and safety of America's food supply. But some people who work there are beginning to worry about their health. According to a union representing USDA employees, officials are exposing them to risks from cancer-causing asbestos and lead paint. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened a probe of the building March 29 in response to an employee complaint. The union accused management of failing to provide sufficient notice about asbestos and lead abatement or to maintain secure, sealed physical barriers between ongoing work and staff at nearby desks.
Josh Eidelson , Bloomberg 05/22/2018 |
| Read Article: Bloomberg |
| Fear of Robot Rides Rises Following High-Profile Road Deaths |
|
Consumer trust in self-driving cars has plummeted following high-profile roadway fatalities, with almost three-quarters of Americans now saying they are too afraid to ride in an autonomous vehicle, according to a new survey. The survey by the American Automobile Association shows faith in robot rides has been shaken by two March incidents: A pedestrian in Arizona struck and killed by an Uber self-driving car and a fatality involving a Tesla Model X operating in semi-autonomous Autopilot mode. The fear-factor reported by 73 percent of those polled last month was up 10 points from late 2017 and nearly erased gains from the 78 percent afraid of automated cars early last year.
Keith Naughton, Bloomberg 05/22/2018 |
| Read Article: Bloomberg |
|
|
