Page 4 - aruba-today-20221220

A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 20 december 2022
Third air bag death confirmed, owners urged to get repairs

By TOM KRISHER son killed was driving a 2010 schedule service. The com-
AP Auto Writer Chrysler 300. pany said it sent 114 urgent
DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis “Time is a critical element notices to the owner for the
and U.S. safety regulators here because the risk in- past seven years.
have confirmed that an creases with each day The owner loaned the ve-
exploding Takata air bag these air bag inflators go hicle to a family member
inflator has killed another unreplaced,” said Tom who was killed in a July
driver. McCarthy, global head of crash when the inflator
The company and the safety and regulatory com- blew apart, Stellantis said.
National Highway Traffic pliance at Stellantis. The company wouldn’t say
Safety Administration reiter- The recalls affect vehicles where the crash occurred,
ated warnings to owners of in which the air bag inflators but said it extends its deep-
274,000 older Dodge and have not been replaced as est sympathies to the fam-
Chrysler vehicles to stop part of the recall. ily.
driving them until faulty in- This June 25, 2017, photo shows TK Holdings Inc. headquarters NHTSA urged all owners to Earlier this month NHTSA
flators are replaced. in Auburn Hills, Mich. Stellantis and U.S. safety regulators have check to see if their vehicles said the driver of a 2002
Stellantis announced confirmed that an exploding Takata air bag inflator has killed have an unrepaired Takata Honda Accord was killed
another driver.
two deaths in November Associated Press air bag recall. Drivers can when the driver’s air bag
caused by the air bags and go to https://www.nhtsa. inflator ruptured and hurled
said it suspected the infla- States. Most of the deaths and gov/recalls and key in their shrapnel. Honda said the
tors caused another. The All three deaths this year about 400 injuries have 17-digit vehicle identifica- crash occurred on Feb.
company formerly known were in warm-weather U.S. happened in U.S., but they tion number to see if they 22 in Bowling Green, Ken-
as Fiat Chrysler confirmed states and happened since also have occurred in Aus- have any open recalls. tucky.
the third death early Mon- April, the company said. tralia and Malaysia. “This holiday season, don’t Potential for the danger-
day. Takata used ammonium ni- The Stellantis vehicles under let yourself or someone you ous malfunction led to the
Stellantis is urging people to trate to create a small ex- the “Do Not Drive” warning love be at risk of dying or largest series of auto recalls
stop driving Dodge Mag- plosion to inflate air bags in were all recalled in 2015, being seriously injured be- in U.S. history, with at least
num wagons, Dodge Chal- a crash. But the chemical and free repairs have been cause of a defective, re- 67 million Takata inflators
lenger and Charger muscle can become more volatile available since then. Deal- called Takata air bag,” said recalled. The U.S. govern-
cars and Chrysler 300 se- over time when exposed to ers have the parts and the NHTSA Acting Administrator ment says that millions have
dans from the 2005 through moisture in the air and re- service is free, and Stellan- Ann Carlson. not been repaired.
2010 model years. peated high temperatures. tis will provide transporta- In a statement, Stellantis About 100 million inflators
Since 2009, the explod- The explosion can rupture tion to get the vehicles to said the vehicle’s own- have been recalled world-
ing air bags have killed at a metal canister and hurl and from a dealership, the er asked the company wide. The exploding air
least 33 people worldwide, shrapnel into the passen- company said. about the air bag recall in bags sent Takata Corp. of
including 24 in the United ger compartment. NHTSA said the latest per- 2018, but then declined to Japan into bankruptcy.q

Massachusetts court rules against medically assisted death

By MARK PRATT the paramount importance of manslaughter may pro- The suit was originally filed in In addition, Massachusetts
Associated Press and profound significance hibit physician-assisted sui- 2016 by Dr. Roger Kligler, a voters in 2012 rejected a
The highest court in Mas- of all end-of-life decisions, cide, and does so, without retired physician with stage ballot question allowing
sachusetts said in a deci- after careful consideration, offending constitutional 4 prostate cancer, and an- terminally ill patients to
sion Monday that allow- we conclude that the Mas- protections.” other doctor who feared receive a lethal dose of
ing doctors to prescribe a sachusetts Declaration of The high court, while not- prosecution on manslaugh- drugs, the court noted.
lethal dose of medication Rights does not reach so ing the sensitive nature of ter charges if he prescribed The office of state Attorney
to mentally competent pa- far as to protect physician- the case, said the ultimate end-of-life medications to General Maura Healey,
tients with terminal illnesses assisted suicide,” the Su- decision on physician-as- terminally ill patients. which argued the case on
is not protected by the preme Judicial Court wrote sisted suicide also known “People are going to die behalf of the state, also
state constitution. in its decision. “We con- as medical aid in dying lies suffering because of this said the Legislature is the
“Although we recognize clude as well that the law with the state Legislature. decision,” Kligler, 70, said in best place to address the
The court said “every one a telephone interview from issue.
of us is free to vote and his Cape Cod home. “Our office understands the
encourage our legislators Kligler, who said he is “not complexities of end of life
to enact laws, and to craft doing well” and in “chronic care,” attorney general’s
appropriate procedural pain,” pledged to contin- spokesperson Jillian Fenni-
safeguards, with respect to ue fighting as long as he is more said in a statement.
one of the only human ex- able. “We are pleased that the
periences that will affect us “I will continue urging law- Court has affirmed our po-
all.” The court also drew a makers to respect the sition that the Legislature
distinction between physi- bodily autonomy of dying is the most appropriate
cian-assisted suicide and a Massachusetts residents by place to have a discussion
patient’s voluntary choice passing the End of Life Op- about this important public
to refuse medical treat- tions Act,” he said. policy issue.
ment or nutrition, saying More than a dozen bills to AG Healey has said she
“whereas withdrawing or legalize physician-assisted supports legislative action
withholding medical care is suicide in the state have to allow medical aid in dy-
Dr. Roger Kligler sits during a hearing in Suffolk Superior Court,
Wednesday, March 8, 2017, in Cambridge, Mass. not the primary cause of a been introduced in the ing, provided it includes suf-
Associated Press patient’s death, physician- Legislature but none has ficient safeguards for both
assisted suicide is.” ever been put to a vote. patients and providers.” q