If you watch the news, you may have seen some popular prescription drugs and other healthcare products making headlines for causing health issues or being featured in class action lawsuits. As a patient, you trust your doctors and healthcare providers to provide you with medicines and other products that will improve your quality of life. Unfortunately, some of these products have effects that are unforeseeable and can cause problems or death.
Here is a list of just a few medical malpractice class-action lawsuit drugs and products that you should know.
Xarelto is a prescription blood thinner that is used to help treat and prevent blood clots. As with any blood thinner, Xarelto increases the risk of severe internal or external bleeding when injured. Without proper labeling or warning, a user runs the risk of using this dangerous drug improperly and further damaging their condition.
Zofran is a prescription drug used to prevent nausea and vomiting. It is most commonly used to prevent nausea from chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. The FDA has not approved it as an acceptable drug to treat morning sickness, however several doctors have prescribed it ‘off-label’ for pregnant women. This drug has been known to cause birth defects such as heart defects for the mother and baby as well as cleft palates for the baby.
Vaginal mesh is a treatment for women with pelvic floor disorders or stress urinary incontinence. A mesh is a medical device that when surgically inserted helps provide extra support when repairing weakened or damaged tissue in the pelvic regions. Complications from this surgery can include: mesh erosion, pain infection, bleeding, pain during sexual encounters, organ perforation and urinary problems.
Diabetes drugs
Diabetes drugs are used to help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks. However, common names such as Lipitor, Januvia, Janumet, Byetta and Victoza are linked to actually aiding in the development of Type 2 Diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer.
Hip replacement surgery is a procedure used on people with joint and cartilage issues in their hip. Hip implants can be made out of metal, ceramic or plastic parts. Hip implants can be defective. In particular metal-on-metal hip implants, which risk damage soft tissue, elevate cobalt and chromium levels in the blood, cause severe pain, loosening and masses around the joint.
Uterine Morcellator
Laparoscopic morcellators are tools – a spinning blade – to help cut up uterine growth so that they can be removed more easily using noninvasive procedures. Many women undergo this procedure as a part of a hysterectomy and other surgeries. However, if any of the masses are cancerous, it can harm the patient by spreading the cancer.
Reasons to File a Claim
If you have experienced any of the mentioned symptoms as a result of taking these medications as recommended by your doctor, we recommend talking to a qualified attorney who can help you set up a claim and recover proper compensation for the damages inflicted.
Damages can include:
- False or misleading marketing of drug
- Improper labeling and negligence/failure to warn users of risks
- Financial hardship caused by emergency visits, ongoing care and additional surgeries
- Loss of income
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss/damage of relationships
- Emotional hardship caused by pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
If you’ve had similar experiences and would like to pursue legal action, give O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Foss attorneys a call. We have an experienced team knowledgeable in medical malpractice and personal injury. Get help now and give us a call at (877) 235-8002.
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