Product Liability Lawyer Blog

March 28, 2014

Prescription Drug Dangers Focus of Awareness Week

Each March, Patient Safety Awareness Week is held to encourage patients to take safety precautions and to be aware of signs that they may be receiving substandard or dangerous medical care. The educational effort occurs annually and healthcare organizations provide promotional material and resources for patients and hospital staff.

While Patient Safety Awareness Week does a good job drawing attention to the need for patients’ to take an active role in managing their own healthcare, the reality is that patients need to go the extra mile to be safe at all times when dealing with the medical and pharmaceutical industries. This is especially true in situations where a patient is prescribed a drug. Under these circumstances, the plaintiff needs to not only be aware of potential pitfalls that the doctor could create (like prescribing the wrong dose) but also of potential problems that could develop if it turns out the safety of a drug is overstated and the risks not disclosed or understood.
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March 24, 2014

Are You At Risk of Complications from Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is commonly prescribed to men whose bodies are not producing enough testosterone on their own. The testicles produce the testosterone hormone, which is responsible for maintaining muscle bulk, for bone growth, for maintaining red blood cells, and for proper sexual function. In cases where a man suffers from low testosterone (Low-T), symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, among other health issues. These undesirable symptoms have caused many men to eagerly embrace TRT as a solution.

Unfortunately, testosterone replacement therapy may do more harm than good. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now reconsidering whether testosterone replacement therapy is actually safe for use amidst a growing number of concerning studies showing problems and dangerous side effects, including a risk of heart problems and strokes. Five men have already sued Abbott Laboratories, alleging that the company should be held liable for the side effects of its low-T treatment. Many more men could also take action if it turns out that the studies are right and that they’ve been using a high-risk medical therapy without adequate warning.
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March 20, 2014

Testosterone Therapy’s Heart Risks Under Scrutiny

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

An increasing number of men are turning to testosterone treatments to help mitigate some conditions including fatigue, low libido, muscle loss or irritability. While some doctors are promoting these treatments to combat some of the side effects of aging, users should consider the potential risks of hormone therapy treatment. According to a recent statement made by the Endocrine Society, testosterone therapy to treat “low T” can carry serious risks, including heart attack.

Those who are proscribed medication to treat certain ailments trust their doctors as well as the government and pharmaceutical companies to ensure that drugs are safe. Unfortunately, many of these patients will discover too late that their drug treatment and therapy caused bodily harm that could have been prevented with proper testing and warnings. Our personal injury attorneys in Massachusetts are dedicated to helping patients recover compensation for injuries caused by dangerous drugs. We understand the complications and challenges with pharmaceutical litigation and can effectively protect the interests of patients and their loved ones.
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March 18, 2014

Cardiac Problems Caused by Metal Hip Replacements

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recent case studies in leading medical journals indicate that patients with metal hip joint replacements could be at a greater risk of cardiac problems and complications. According to a New York Times article, two recent investigations uncovered similar medical mysteries, both involving patients with metal hip replacements and life-threatening heart conditions. The medical research and reports could help future patients with hip replacements and cardiac problems identify the source of their illness or disease. Our Boston hip implant lawyers are dedicated to recent developments involving health and dangerous medical devices.

Case study 1: A man in Germany became ill and sought a diagnosis to treat a worsening condition. His medical problems had begun three years earlier, including low hormone levels, an inflamed esophagus, and high body temperature. He began to lose his vision to the point of being nearly blind. The patient had damaged hearing and became nearly deaf. His illness intensified and he felt his body weaken, evidently because of a heart condition. Eventually, he suffered heart failure, even though he had no coronary artery disease or complications.
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March 15, 2014

Different Surgeries Offer Successful Alternatives to Transvaginal Mesh

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Female incontinence is an embarrassing, complicated disorder, not uncommon for older women or those who suffered injury during childbirth. New research published and highlighted in an article by Tech Times, has revealed that female incontinence can now be treated by two effective surgeries, an alternative to transvaginal mesh implants, medical devices that have led to painful complications for thousands of women nationwide.

Female incontinence is sometimes caused by pelvic organ prolapse. In the past few decades pelvic organ prolapse has been treated with transvaginal mesh resulting in long-term damage and injury to patients. Our Boston transvaginal mesh attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of women injured by defective medical products, including TVM. We are also committed to keeping patients aware of the potential risks associated with transvaginal mesh.
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March 13, 2014

TVM Company Facing Falling Revenues & Legal Trouble

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In 2011, Endo Pharmaceuticals bought American Medical Systems (AMS) for $2.9 billion. When Endo bought AMS, Endo become responsible for any potential legal liability associated with products that AMS had sold to consumers. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a big issue since American Medical Systems was one of the primary manufacturers of transvaginal mesh products.

TVM products made by a variety of manufacturers have caused very serious problems for patients, including severe pain, erosion of the mesh and recurrent pelvic organ prolapse (one of the very conditions the mesh was designed to treat). Thousands of lawsuits have been filed, and Endo reportedly set aside an additional $316 million for its “product liability reserve” to deal with vaginal mesh lawsuits. Plaintiffs who were harmed by the AMS products should consult with an experienced Boston transvaginal mesh lawyer for information on whether they could potentially obtain settlement funds or other damages for injuries.
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March 9, 2014

Judge in TVM Cases Addresses Lien Resolution

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

More than 40,000 plaintiffs who have filed transvaginal mesh claims are suffering serious complications associated with the use of surgical mesh products. Many of the plaintiffs who experienced these complications have already been forced to undergo revision surgeries and to have other expensive medical treatments performed to resolve complications from failed surgical mesh products. Unfortunately, many of these thousands of women have not yet been paid by the companies that produced the mesh.

When plaintiffs are injured by a product and undergo medical treatment as a result, their health insurers often pay for the bills. Then, when the plaintiff recovers compensation in a personal injury or product liability lawsuit, the health insurer is often entitled to be reimbursed for expenses and outlays. A Boston transvaginal mesh lawyer can help victims injured by TVM products to understand the impact of these healthcare liens on the outcome of their case, since the liens must be addressed. Recently, for example, the court presiding over a large multi-district TVM case in West Virginia has issued a pretrial order appointing a Lien Resolution Administrator.
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March 7, 2014

Long Recovery Makes Replacement-Hip Failure Especially Tragic

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Patients who opt for replacement hip or knee joints have a long road to recovery after the procedure. While many factors go into the decision of whether to get elective joint replacement, those who have the operation do so because they want to increase mobility and be able to do more with their lives. However, doctors recommend other types of treatments like losing weight or exercising to strengthen the muscles around the joints because the recovery process for surgical joint replacement can be intensive.

When a patient does decide to undergo a joint replacement procedure, the full process of healing the soft tissue and bone could take longer than a year. After the time, expense and recovery process, patients deserve to enjoy the benefits that they hoped for when undergoing the surgery. Unfortunately, far too often, this does not happen because patients instead find themselves coping with serious complications and with the potential need for revision surgery.
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March 4, 2014

Safety of Testosterone Replacement Products Called Into Question

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Middle aged men and older men in the U.S. are being prescribed testosterone replacement therapy in ever increasing numbers. Low testosterone can lead to impaired sexual function, fat distribution problems, weakening bone density; and perhaps even a higher risk of heart disease.

Products like GlaxoSmithKline’s Testim; Eli Lily’s Axiron, and AbbVie’s AndroGel are three of the testosterone replacement products approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unfortunately, manufacturers of some of these products have found themselves accused of hiding risks. AbbVie, for example, has been sued because men who used AndroGel claim they experienced unexpected side effects due to the low-T treatment. Several of the plaintiffs experienced heart attacks, while others had strokes.
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March 3, 2014

Lipitor Lawsuits Consolidated in U.S. District Court

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has recently approved a motion to consolidate federal lawsuits filed against Pfizer Inc. due to Lipitor side effects. Lipitor is a widely-prescribed drug that was marketed to patients as a means of lowering cholesterol. Unfortunately, the drug has been linked to the development of Type 2 diabetes and patients who developed diabetes have sued the drug manufacturer.

The Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has approved the consolidation of the cases before the Honorable Judge Richard M. Gergel, who is already presiding over 27 Lipitor cases. The Judge’s experience in hearing Lipitor cases over the course of the past year has prepared him to manage the mass tort litigation that the approved motion creates.
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