Archive for January, 2008

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28
Jan

Heparin-filled syringes recalled due to serious health risk

A North Carolina company has issued a nationwide recall of heparin and saline pre-filled syringes because people in several states have become seriously ill due to a bacterial infection found in the syringes. The syringes are used for a variety of home medical uses, such as cleaning out catheter tubes.

The bacterial contaminant is known as Serratia marcescens, which according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “could present a serious adverse health consequence that could lead to life-threatening injuries and/or death.”

The bacteria can potentially cause serious Texas personal injury and death.

Click here to read more http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/am2pat01_08.html

Popularity: 31% [?]

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24
Jan

Ortho Evra Warning Label Strengthened

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently updated the label on the Ortho Evra birth control patch, warning users that a new study shows users of the Ortho Evra birth control patch are at an elevated risk of developing serious blood clots, which can result in a serious Texas drug injury.

The blood clots are known as venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) and occur, according to the study, at a higher rate in women using the birth control patch than women taking birth control pills.

Blood clots can cause serious Texas personal injury and even death.

Click here to read more http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01781.html

Popularity: 31% [?]

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18
Jan

Vioxx Settlement Update

On February 29, 2008, roughly 45,000 plaintiffs who suffered heart attack or stroke that qualify for the Vioxx settlement must enroll if they wish to be receive part of the massive $4.85 billion fund set aside by lawyers and the pharmaceutical company Merck for those injured by the painkiller drug Vioxx.

In order to validate the money set aside—which could be taken off the table if certain criteria is not met—85% of those claimants must enroll in the settlement.

The settlement amount is being divided up by tens of thousands of people, and some victims are claiming the share set aside for them isn’t enough. One woman who suffered a Vioxx-related heart attack lost her job and had to pay more than $200,000 in medical bills. Her share of the settlement is roughly $530,000, but she feels that since she suffered greatly, that amount is not enough.

Vioxx is believed to have been a contributing factor in Texas drug injuries—namely heart attacks and strokes—and has left many Texas drug injury victims seeking compensation for their pain, suffering, and considerable medical bills.

Click here to read more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119993021557679801.html?mod=djemWLB&apl=y&r=796175

Popularity: 31% [?]

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15
Jan

FDA Takes Action Against Hormone Therapy Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against seven different pharmacies for their false and misleading claims over the safety and effectiveness of their “bio-identical hormone replacement therapy” drugs (BHRTs). The BRHTs were being promoted by these pharmaceutical companies as being better than FDA-approved menopausal hormone therapy drugs.

The pharmacies also claimed these BHRT drugs prevent and or treat Alzheimer’s, stroke, cancer, and other sicknesses, which is scientifically unproven at this time. The drugs all contain estriol, a compound that isn’t approved and which has not been proven safe or effective for human use.

Use of unapproved FDA drugs can result in serious Texas drug injury and possibly death. Texas drug injuries occur far too commonly and can have serious health complications.

Click here to read more http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01772.html

Popularity: 36% [?]

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11
Jan

Paramedic didn’t check pulse of wreck victim left for dead

Erica Smith was left laying on the road for over an hour after she was assumed dead in a severe Texas auto accident. She suffered a severe head trauma and was thought dead, but paramedics failed to check for a pulse, despite the fact that San Antonio officials said the official policy is for paramedics to check for a pulse regardless of their initial assessment of injury victims’ health.

The 23-year-old Texas State University student died from her injuries the next day, and it is unknown whether or not this serious oversight was a contributing factor to her death following the Texas auto accident.

Erica Smith laid under a tarp for over an hour before a medical examiner discovered she was breathing.

Click here to read more http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/13562197.html

Popularity: 43% [?]