Charlottesville VA Product Defect Lawyer
Prescription Drug Recalls
Advances in medicine can be both a blessing and a curse. While the availability of new medicines, vaccinations, and medical devices can be lifesaving and help protect the community at large, these drugs which are seen as much needed cures or preventative measures, can actually turn out to be deadly.
Disturbingly, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) continues to issue recalls on a regular basis. These can be at the impetus of the FDA, the drug manufacturer itself, or by law. If someone you know has encountered a serious adverse reaction to a drug, contact a Charlottesville, Virginia product defect lawyer from MartinWren, P.C. to evaluate your legal options.
The Risks
Consumers can suffer anywhere from mild to severe adverse reactions following the use of prescribed or over-the-counter medications. Usually, these unsafe drugs are the result of a manufacturing defect or inadequate warning label. This can lead to irreversible medical conditions and even catastrophic injuries or death.
Unfortunately, by the time the drug companies recall the suspect medication, it has probably already sickened people or, worse still, patients have died.
Some of the most disturbing reactions may include:
- Potentially fatal fungal or bacterial bloodstream infections
- Cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks and heart failure
- Suicide, birth defects, and withdrawal
- Blood clots, stroke, and death
- Liver disease and kidney failure
Compounding Pharmacies and Custom Medication
A certain sector of drugs dispensed by drugstores and hospitals across the United States are those that are “compounded.” They are a custom mix of drug components for patients that have specific medical needs that manufactured medications cannot meet. According to the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists, it is estimated that nationwide, one to three percent of all prescriptions are compounded for specialty treatments such as certain cancers regimens and numerous pediatric conditions.
Much of the compounding is relatively straightforward. For example, the mixing of topical ointments or liquefying drugs so they can be easily ingested by children. The more complicated mixing or “specialty blends” are those which are intended to be administered intravenously. It is imperative that compounded medications are not contaminated with bacteria, fungus, mold, or other impurities.
Therefore, the major concerns are typically safety and sanitary issues and that the mixed components are, in fact, FDA approved drugs. They must be manufactured in sterile conditions As a Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer can attest, compounding pharmacies are increasingly a concern to federal authorities and recalls have been increasing at alarming rates over the last few years.
FDA inspectors have observed workers wearing soiled gloves, wearing non-sterile masks and gowns, baring exposed skin, picking items up that dropped on the floor and proceed to use the material, mold growth in injectable medications, lack of sanitized space where transferring components takes place, and workers moving freely over open vials and syringes.
Legal Recourse
Family members and loved ones who are already medically vulnerable who suffer harm as a result of an adverse reaction to a drug or endured serious medical injury from a contaminated intravenous drug deserve to be compensated for their injuries. Drug companies and compounding pharmacies claim their bottom line is constantly being chipped away by federal regulation, but these companies have a duty to make products that will not harm consumers. A Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer can pursue damages for victims of defective medications.
If you suspect you or your loved one has suffered harm from taking a certain medication, contact a compassionate Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer who has the resources to investigate fully and fight to win the monetary compensation deserved. MartinWren, P.C. provides experienced and determined personal injury attorneys to have on your side. Contact us today for an initial FREE consultation.
What You Need To Know About Prescription Injuries
Injury from taking a prescription drug may be frustrating as well as frightening. You have a right to safe and effective medication, but the pharmaceutical you were taking instead contributed to further harm. Not only that, but when you reported the injury, you may have been accused of inadvertently causing it by not paying attention to the instructions you were given. Your pharmacy and doctor’s office have computer systems in place intended to catch medication errors, so many providers automatically assume that the harm was due to patient error.
Nevertheless, mistakes by a doctor or pharmacist are more common than many people realize. This is why you should contact a Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer from MartinWren, P.C. if you have been injured.
Who Is Responsible for a Prescription Injury?
The blame for an injury you sustain from taking a prescription drug usually rests with at least one of three entities:
- The prescribing doctor
- The pharmacist
- The drug manufacturer
However, it is possible for more than one of these parties to bear some responsibility. For example, if your doctor prescribes an excessive amount of a medication, your pharmacist should check the error and verify the dosage with your physician. If your pharmacist fills a prescription that a reasonable professional with commensurate education and experience would recognize as incorrect, he or she could be held liable for your injuries. Your Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case to make that determination.
What Are the Common Causes for Prescription Injuries?
Prescription injuries can result from a manufacturer not conducting enough testing on the medication before selling it to the public. This may be an oversight, or it may be done deliberately in the interest of maximizing profits. A doctor can make a prescribing error, or a pharmacist may make a mistake in dispensing the medication or providing the necessary instructions. Any of these causes can be legally considered negligence and result in a Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer obtaining financial compensation for the losses you have suffered.
What Should You Do if You Are Injured by a Prescription Drug?
If you have reason to believe that a prescription drug has caused you harm, you should take action as soon as possible. Like other types of personal injury torts, there is a statute of limitations on prescription injuries. The time you have varies by jurisdiction, but it is usually only a year or two from the time that you either start taking the medication or could reasonably discover that your symptoms have been caused by it.
If you decide to take legal action related to a prescription injury, it is definitely in your best interest to seek the services of a Charlottesville VA product defect lawyer. The law is complex, and defendants like pharmaceutical companies are likely to have a team of lawyers on their side. For more information, please contact MartinWren, P.C. today.