Investigators from the Tampa offices of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) arrived at Sea World Orlando yesterday to investigate the death of whale trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was attacked by the largest orca (or killer whale) in captivity during a live performance.

Before federal officials called Toyota executives to Washington for a series of hearings over the company's sudden unintended acceleration recalls, they first demanded the company turn over all internal communications and other records concerning the problem. Toyota complied, providing investigators with more than 75,000 pages of information. Among that massive pile of paper was a chilling internal memo that clearly valued dollars over human life.

Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. testified before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations yesterday, squaring off with legislators over his company's record of handling sudden unintended acceleration problems affecting millions of its vehicles.

Biopharmaceutical company Cephalon paid more than $9.1 million in 2009 to health care professionals for speaking fees and consulting services. Cephalon was required to disclose the information, available on the company's Web site, along with paying $425 million in settlement charges, after the Department of Health and Human Services charged that the company illegally marketed three of its drugs, including Actiq, a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for very limited use to treat breakthrough pain in cancer patients who have built up a tolerance to opioids.

Drug maker Javelin hopes to meet with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss approval of its new painkiller, Ereska. The drug is a non-opioid nasal medication designed to treat moderate to severe pain and provide physicians with an accepted and regulated alternative to off-label use and opioids.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning health care professionals about a recall of BD Q-Syte Luer Access Devices, a needleless valve, and BD Nexiva Closed IV Catheter Systems, both manufactured by BD. The devices are intended for use with other infusion therapy products to administer fluids into the intravenous system. Use of the devices may cause an air embolism or leakage of blood or therapeutic product, which may cause serious injury or death.

The federal government has stepped up its investigation of Toyota Motor Corp. in the wake of a series of recalls affecting about 8.5 million U.S. cars and trucks. On Tuesday, the Transportation Department demanded Toyota provide documents pertaining to the safety recalls, including internal communications that may reveal how seriously the company handled consumer complaints of sudden acceleration.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to carefully read the label of over-the-counter drugs to avoid any drug interactions. Specifically, the agency has received reports of consumers confusing different Maalox products containing different active ingredients intended for the relief of different symptoms that have the potential for serious side effects.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning emergency medical professionals, health care professionals and consumers about a recall of Powerheart, Cardiovive, CardioLife models of Cardiac Science Automated External Defibrillators (AED) because the devices may not be able to deliver therapy during a cardiac resuscitation attempt, which may lead to serious adverse events or death. Cardiac Science Corporation says the AEDs were manufactured in a way that makes them potentially susceptible to failure under certain conditions. About 12,200 devices are affected by the recall.

Not many people were surprised when late yesterday Toyota officially announced it would recall approximately 133,000 2010 model Toyota Prius vehicles. For more than a week, the auto manufacturer debated the merits of an official recall to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system (ABS). However, it was not as widely known that this recall also would affect Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus, but this voluntary safety recall includes 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles. The Lexus recall also involves a software update for the ABS.