Syracuse Personal Injury Lawyer - FDA & Prescription Drugs

Two Deaths Linked To Tainted Beef

Chrissie Cole — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:09:00 GMT

At least 546,000 pounds of beef have been recalled in New York and at least seven other states because beef from a local processing plant has been linked to E. coli.

The tainted meat has been linked to two deaths (in New York and New Hampshire) and several other illnesses.

Fairbank Farms of New York announced the voluntary recall of fresh ground beef produced between September 14 and 16. The meat is packaged with "EST 492" on the label.

The company has set up a consumer hotline and has information and details listed on their Web site. You can find it here.

E. coli poisoning symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain and can lead to kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome and death.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Fun Express Recalls Water-Based Face Paint

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:35:00 GMT

Certain cosmetic “Face Paints” have been recalled following reports of skin irritation in small children.

Fun Express Inc., owned by the Oriental Trading Co, is the brand name of the recalled items.

The paints are made in China by Shanghai Color Art Stationery Company Ltd., and were distributed nationwide, says the FDA.

Several reports of children suffering skin irritation have been reported to the agency.

The agency’s laboratory found significant bacteria and mold in most of the recalled products.

The following items are included in the recall:

Item Number	Product Description	Universal Product Code (UPC)
85/2077	Blue Face Paint	8 8760048110 7
85/2078	Purple Face Paint	8 8760048112 1
85/2079	Red Face Paint	8 8760048114 5
85/2080	Orange Face Paint	8 8760048116 9
85/2081	Black Face Paint	8 8760048118 3
85/2082	Green Face Paint	8 8760048120 6

Consumers should discard any of these recalled face paints or return them to the store of purchase.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

FDA Issues Warnings for Biphosphonates

Staff Writer — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:46:49 GMT

The FDA is reminding prescibers and patients that certain osteoporosis medications may be associated with severe or incapacitating bone, joint and muscle pain. FDA advises that these side effects may develop days, months or even years after starting the drug and may persist despite stopping the medication.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors side effects of drugs that are currently on the market by way of a program known as MedWatch Prescribers provide voluntary reports to the FDA advising them of issues with various prescription drugs and devices. If there are, what FDA considers, a substantial number of reports an action may be taken. On January 7 the FDA issued an Alert to health care providers and patients concerning biphosphonates, a class of prescription medications used to treat osteoporosis and certain other conditions. These drugs are marketed as Actonel, Actonel+Ca, Aredia, Boniva, Didronel, Fosamax, Fosamax+D, Reclast, Skelid, and Zometa.

FDA is reminding prescibers and patients that these drugs may be associated with severe or incapacitating bone, joint and muscle pain. FDA advises that these side effects may develop days, months or even years after starting the drug. Risk factors for development of these side effects is unknown and the frequency with which they might occur is unclear. Although these are known side effects FDA is concerned that they might be overlooked or attributed to another disease causing a delay in diagnosis. Diagnostic delays might lead to prolonged pain requiring additional medications. Of course, any time additional medications are used, the risk for more side effects or adverse reactions occurs. Diagnostic delays might also cause functional impairment involving the ability to work or engage in other activities of daily living.

Some patients have reported prompt resolution of the pain after stopping the medication but other reports suggest that there may be only a partial recovery, even after halting the drug.

It is important for patients to maintain ongoing communication with their physician. If you develop any new symptoms or if you fail to improve with treatment be sure to contact your doctor promptly. You must act as your own advocate. Do not be put off by abrupt, rude or busy office staff. It is important for your concerns to be heard and acted on. If you believe your healthcare provider is not responding to you in an appropriate or timely fashion a second opinion or a visit to the emergency room is in order.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Staff Writer

Buyer Beware

Joe Stanley — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:28:27 GMT

The recent recalls of Chinese products has generated a scare. As consumers in a global economy we all should be concerned with the many reports. of defective products. As citizens we should be concerned with our governments failure to protect us. Lawyers have over the years been the help of last resort for injured consumers. In a global economy seeking compensation from those responsible is a difficult task. if you are injured beware of your legal rights.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Stanley

Couple Files Paxil Birth Defects Lawsuit

Rob Quattrocci — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:12:03 GMT

A South Carolina couple is suing the maker of the anti-depressant Paxil, who they believe caused their daughter's birth defect. It is the first lawsuit of it's kind filed within this state.

Taylor Dismuke looks like any other 6-year-old little girl but she is living with a heart malformation that will affect her for the rest of her life. Her mother, Kimberly Dismuke said, "She won't be able to participate in sports. She won't be able to dance, take gymnastics or participate in cheerleading."

In 2000, Taylor, was born with a heart malformation that required open heart surgery the first week of her life, followed by another surgery before her first birthday.

Kimberly Dismuke and her husband Shannon Dismuke of South Carolina are suing the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Taylor's parents allege they were never told that the anti-depressant Paxil can cause birth defects in pregnant women.

Five years later, in September 2005, GlaxoSmithKline released the results of a survey that concluded there is an increased risk of heart malformations for women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The Dismuke's attorney Andy Vickery firmly believes Taylor's heart malformation is the result of Paxil.
Taylor will have more open heart surgeries as she grows. Because of the powerful drugs Taylor must take for her condition, she will not be able to give birth when she becomes a woman. Her mother stated, "No parent should ever have to feel this helpless, especially when the condition could have been prevented from the very beginning."
Vickery said, "We hope that it is the first case in this country to go to trial in which GlaxoSmithKline will be held accountable for its corporate decisions that place moms at risk of birth defects."

The case is expected to go to trial sometime next year. Only a jury will be able to decide if this case could have been prevented.

Earlier this month, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a report advising Paxil should be avoided by pregnant women or women whom are planning to become pregnant.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Rob Quattrocci

Buying Prescription Drugs Online May be a Health Risk

Christina Cole — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:30:20 GMT

People that are trying to save some bucks by ordering their prescription drugs online might be putting their health at risk. And now, the government is trying to step in and help out.

The federal government reports that a "rash of bad drug mix ups and dangerous drugs are ending up in American homes." The FDA further states, the bargain medicines you buy online could very well be "fakes."

There are instances where consumers were led to believe they were ordering sleeping aids and anti-depressants from different companies. When, what they actually received was a powerful mix of anti-psychotic drugs. The FDA is currently investigating many cases where people have landed in the emergency room for taking these pills.

The FDA has created a specific webpage that hosts photos of these "fake" drugs and the packaging they arrive in so you can compare them to anything you have bought online.

If you have been a victim and received dangerous prespription drugs online, file a complaint with the FDA immediately and contact a lawyer to find out your options if necessary.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

FDA Approves New Drugs too Quickly

Christina Cole — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 02:41:45 GMT

An FDA whistleblower says there is a "culture of approval" that allows dangerous drugs to make it to the market far too quickly.

Doctor David Ross, a former drug reviewer at the FDA, told a panel that they push to "find ways" to quickly get new drugs to the market without concern for the consumer.

Ross says the FDA approved Ketek (an antibiotic) although they knew it could potentially kill people from liver damage and that the drug maker had submitted fabricated data.

Panel chairman Bart Stupak expressed concern about the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which requires that new drugs be made available to consumers quickly. He says it's "greatly compromised" the F-D-A's ability to assure drug safety.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

Prepulsid Drug Alleged to be Ineffective & Dangerous

Christina Cole — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 18:20:04 GMT

A Canadian man whose 15-year-old daughter died after taking the prescription drug Prepulsid is now filing a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, the drug's manufacturer.

Terence Young's daughter, Vanessa, died in 2000 from a heart arrhythmia after using the drug to ease symptoms of bloating.

The class action, recently certified by an Ontario judge, is seeking damages for cardiac-related injuries and advances a claim for damages arising from the purchase of what is now being alleged to have been an ineffective, dangerous drug.

In 2004, Johnson and Johnson agreed to provide up to $90 million in payments to resolve similar allegations in the United States. The Canadian case has been bogged down in motions for several years.
Superior Court Justice Ellen Macdonald certified the lawsuit late last week, but word of the certification wasn't made public until this week.
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants "breached various duties of care owed to the class by negligently developing, testing, manufacturing, licensing, distributing and marketing Prepulsid in Canada, and by failing to adequately warn Canadian physicians and their patients of the risks associated with ingesting Prepulsid," Macdonald wrote in her ruling.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole