Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Generic Reglan Drug Label Suit
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments over whether generic drug makers can be sued for the failure to warn about dangerous side effects on their drug label even when they follow federal rules. In PLIVA, Inc. v. Mensing a woman took metoclopramide – the generic equivalent of Reglan – for four years… read more
American Dangerous Drug Trials Being Conducted Overseas
A recent investigative article has disclosed some scary statistics. Even with FDA approval, prescription drugs kill nearly 200,000 Americans each year. As a result of consumer backlash and the raised awareness of the potential risks of dangerous drugs such as Avandia, Reglan, and Darvon/Darvocet, many U.S. drug companies have now moved their clinical trials overseas… read more
Darvon/Darvocet Pulled From The Market
Last week, the FDA finally pulled propoxyphene – sold as Darvon and Darvocet – from the U.S. market. For nearly 50 years concerns have been raised over the side effects of Darvon/Darvocet usage, including its toxicity even at low levels and its highly addictive properties. Additionally, it has not been shown to be very effective… read more
Depuy Hip Recall Cases Escalate
Every day more and more cases are reported of patients injured after being fitted with the Depuy hip – an artificial hip replacement. According to reports, metal shards may break off of the hip replacement and lodge themselves in patients’ bodies after being fitted. Although sometimes the problem can be resolved with subsequent surgery –… read more
New Mexico Trucking Accidents And Fatigue – A Dangerous Combination
Transportation safety – on roadways and highways in New Mexico and throughout the country is a concern to most Americans. When truck collisions occur, the results often include serious injuries and fatalities, many times the fault of a negligent truck driver or the company that hires them, with drivers forced to work excessive hours with… read more
Doctors With Questionable Records Hired By Drug Companies
ProPublica, an independent news organization, has been investigating the connection between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, and how pharmaceutical company payments influence physician prescription practices, including the prescription of dangerous drugs such as Avandia, Levaquin, and Meridia. This in-depth report reveals that hundreds of doctors received payments from drug companies who had been accused of professional… read more
Can Parents Sue For A Vaccine’s Design Defect?
Last week the United States Supreme Court heard arguments concerning whether the parents of a girl who became sick shortly after being vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis can sue the vaccine’s manufacturer. The parents allege a design defect. Nearly 5,000 potential lawsuits may result if the court allows the parents to sue, asserting a… read more
Congress Considers National Concussion Legislation
Recent reports have highlighted the growing concern that student-athletes are being pushed too quickly to return to the game after receiving a concussion. Concussions – or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – result from blunt trauma to the head. Commonly occurring after car accidents or other types of injury accidents, the harm to the brain is… read more
FDA’s Avandia Restrictions – A “Victory” For Consumer Safety
In a victory for consumers, the FDA finally restricted sales of Avandia in the United States (as well as suspending all use in Europe.) However, as noted in the New York Times, the dangers associated with Avandia only came to light after a cardiologist analyzed data from clinical trials that GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of the… read more
Malpractice “Reforms” Unrelated To The Practice Of Defensive Medicine
In direct contradiction to claims that medical malpractice caps are necessary on pain and suffering in order to reduce the costs of doctors practicing “defensive medicine, ” a recent study released in the policy journal Health Affairs found that many of the popular proposals suggested for reducing medical malpractice are unrelated to the practice of… read more