Patients who were harmed because of heparin contamination still have time to bring claims against the makers of the heparin products. Patients may have been exposed to contaminated heparin through injections, pre-filled syringes or IV bags. It is important for people affected by contaminated heparin to hold those responsible accountable for what happened.
Heparin is a blood thinner, used in a variety of procedures, including dialysis and cardiac procedures. In early 2008, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of certain Baxter heparin products after the agency received reports of adverse reactions linked to the products. Within a month, hundreds of reports detailing severe reactions to heparin surfaced worldwide. The recall was later expanded to include more products and other companies.
The FDA discovered that the contaminant was oversulfated chondroitin sulphate (OSCS), the reactions to OSCS can be extreme; with large doses of heparin, it can result in death.
Injuries linked to contaminated heparin include nausea, vomiting and flu-like symptoms to anaphylactic shock, coma and even death.
The key now is to determine where the contaminant was introduced. OSCS is a synthetic product that mimics the characteristics of heparin, which is why the contaminant was so difficult to detect. Officials suspect OSCS was introduced intentionally to dilute heparin in an attempt to maximize profits.
Heparin is made from swine—pig intestines. In 2006 to 2007, China’s swine population was devastated by a rare disease. There have been 246 reports of death reported to FDA since January 1, 2007; 238 were reported to FDA on or after January 1, 2008. Of the 149 reports that included one or more allergic symptom(s) or symptoms of hypotension and death, 146 were reported to FDA on or after January 1, 2008.
It is alleged that Baxter didn’t adequately test the heparin for this type of contaminant. It got on the marketplace and resulted in devastating injury and death.”
If you or a family member has been injured medically because of the fault of someone else: by the use of dangerous drugs, bad products, or toxic injury etc then please contact the Fort Worth Texas Dangerous Drugs Product Liability Attorney Dr. Shezad Malik. For a no obligation, free case analysis, please call 817-255-4001 or Contact Me Online.