Personal Injury

November 6, 2015

Alarming Rate of IVC Filter Injuries Across U.S.

The truth is that thousands of people have been severely injured by the side effects of these medical devices. And shockingly the injuries were avoidable simply enough by the timely and diligent removal of these temporary devices.

Every year, thousands of patients are implanted with a retrieval inferior vena cava filters (IVC) but they are not warned by doctors about the risk of injury from these temporary devices.

And as time passes, patients tend to forget that they had this device implanted and the first inkling that they had the device, is when they suffer serious injury from a complication.

According to some experts, there is a very high failure rate with these devices, which only increases with the duration of the filter in the body, eventually all of the devices will fail. So 100% failure of the device becomes not a question of “if” but “when.”

What is an IVC Filter?

The filter devices are used when there is a blood clot in the leg known as a deep vein thrombosis and there is a contraindication to using blood thinners, which is the standard therapy for leg blood clots.

These devices are supposed to trap blood clots from traveling from the leg to the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal.

November 4, 2015

Can Hysterectomy Cause Uterine Cancer Spread?

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Short answer, yes, by causing the spread of undiagnosed malignant uterine cancer. In American women who are of reproductive age, Hysterectomy is the second most frequently performed surgical procedure (after cesarean section). The majority of these hysterectomies are performed laparoscopically.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2006-2010, 11.7 percent of women between the ages of 40-44 had a hysterectomy.

Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States, and approximately 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy.

By the age of 60, more than one third of all women have had a hysterectomy. According to the National Women’s Health Network (NWHN) unnecessary hysterectomies have put women at risk, and that doctors should search for hysterectomy alternatives before performing life-changing operations.

What is Laparoscopic Hysterectomy?

Minimally invasive or laparoscopic removal of the uterus, is know as hysterectomy and typically performed for the treatment of fibroids or benign tumors of the uterus. During the surgery, many doctors remove the uterus in pieces using a mechanical grinding or chopping device known as a power morcellator.

November 3, 2015

Alarming Rate of Metal Hip Implant Failure Nationwide

by Dr. Shezad Malik

There are a shocking number of metal on metal hip implant replacement failures. The epidemic of premature metal on metal hip implant failure continues surge at an alarming rate. DePuy ASR, DePuy Pinnacle, Biomet M2A Magnum, Smith and Nephew Birmingham and R3, Wright Profemur and Conserve, Zimmer Durom cup and Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II and Encore, are among hip replacements that continue to fail prematurely and require painful and risky revision surgery.

Total Number of DePuy ASR Settlements Exceeds 9,400 Cases

Johnson and Johnson (J&J) and its subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics, has agreed to add another 1,400 hip injury claims to a settlement agreement reached in 2013. This new agreement extends the deal to include recalled ASR implants that were revised as of January 31, 2015.

J&J had initially agreed to settle about 8,000 ASR lawsuit cases, that folks brought when their hip replacement failed and had to be removed prior to August 31, 2013. The initial agreement left several thousand DePuy ASR hip lawsuits in limbo.

November 2, 2015

Zofran Cleft Lip, Palate and Hole in Heart Lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Recently, earlier in October after hearing arguments, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has consolidated and centralized all federal Zofran lawsuits before U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor, in the District of Massachusetts, for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.

What is Zofran?

Zofran (ondansetron) is a drug approved for treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and surgery. Zofran is manufactured by pharma powerhouse, GlaxoSmithKline.

But it has been prescribed increasingly “off-label” to treat morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum among pregnant women. In other words, prescribed by doctors for other uses, other than those medical indications approved by the FDA.

Many Zofran birth defect lawsuits, share similar allegations that the popular anti-nausea medication was illegally marketed for use among pregnant women, even though the manufacturers failed to notify the FDA that it was safe or effective for pregnant women and fetuses.

October 18, 2015

Wright Profemur Hip Implant Recall

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Metal on metal hip implants have another premature hip implant failure and metallosis disaster to account for. Recently, another metal hip implant fiasco and recall has hit the airways and garnered the strongest warning/recall from the FDA.

The FDA recently announced the Profemur hip recall for the Long Cobalt Chrome 8 Degree Varus/Valgus Modular Neck, noting that it is a Class I medical device recall.

The epidemic of premature metal on metal hip implant failure continues surge at an alarming rate. DePuy ASR, DePuy Pinnacle, Biomet Magnum & M2a, Smith and Nephew, Wright Conserve, Zimmer Durom cup and Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II, are among hip replacements that continue to fail prematurely and require painful and risky revision surgery.

11,000 Affected Profemur Modular Neck Components

There are high rates of hip implant fractures has led to the recall of nearly 11,000 Profemur Varus/Valgus modular neck components for artificial hip replacement systems.

October 16, 2015

Texas Attorney Explains Bard and Cook IVC Filter Lawsuit Claims

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Lawsuits filed against Cook Medical over their defective IVC filters are gaining traction and moving towards trial. U.S. District Judge Young is overseeing the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) and has announced that a group of 10 Cook Medical inferior vena cava (IVC) filter lawsuits have been chosen for early trial dates that will begin late 2016.

Federal Cook MDL In Indiana

All Cook Celect and Cook Gunther Tulip IVC filter lawsuits have been consolidated in a MDL, in the Southern District of Indiana for fast track discovery and pretrial proceedings, since October 2014. According to the latest court house data, there are about 200 lawsuits filed against Cook Medical, that have been consolidated and centralized in Indiana.

What’s The Problem With Cook IVC Filters?

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, are small, implantable metal devices for patients at risk of a pulmonary embolism or a blood clot to the lung. These folks have contraindications to the standard therapy for blood clots, anticoagulants. The filters block blood clots from traveling to the heart or lungs, from the legs, known as a deep vein thrombosis.

October 14, 2015

Texas Actos Attorney Provides Bladder Cancer Settlement Update

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Takeda Pharmaceuticals has decided to wrap up the remaining Actos linked bladder cancer lawsuits. Takeda settled two more claims this week, after a two-month trial in Nevada state court.

Recently, Takeda ear-marked $2.4 billion for settlements to settle thousands of personal injury and defective product liability lawsuits brought by diabetic patients who were diagnosed with bladder cancer after using Actos.

Actos Settlement Band Wagon Keeps On Rolling

In September, Takeda said that 96% of Actos claimants signed up for its $2.3 billion settlement offer, settling most of the 8,000 plus cases pending in state and federal courts.

On other fronts, Takeda settled the 7 out of 9 cases that had been tried and were up on appeal. Takeda also agreed to toss in an extra $100 million if 97% of claims matched up with settlement criteria. Takeda is trying close down the Actos bladder litigation, by encouraging as many plaintiffs as possible to settle their injury claims and keep the settlement band wagon rolling on.

October 8, 2015

Ohio Xarelto Bleeding Injury Lawsuit Claim

by Dr. Shezad Malik

The number of Xarelto injury side effects and wrongful death claims continue to increase. According to some estimates, the total number of personal injury and defective product liability claims will be in the thousands. Recently, Molly Harr, from Ohio, has filed a injury lawsuit claiming that Xarelto side effects caused her to develop severe gastrointestinal bleeding, after using the popular oral blood thinner or anticoagulant for chronic atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is a very common heart rhythm problem, which can cause strokes. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.

Plaintiff Allegations

Harr notes that she was prescribed Xarelto in September 2013, for treatment of atrial fibrillation. Within 2 months, she developed severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Louisiana Federal Mulidistrict Litigation

Since December 2014, all federal product liability lawsuits filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson over the bleeding side effects of Xarelto have been centralized and consolidated before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation.

October 5, 2015

Dallas Attorney Explains Xarelto Injury Claims

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Since December 2014, all federal product liability lawsuits filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson over the bleeding side effects of Xarelto have been centralized and consolidated before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon in the Eastern District of Louisiana as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation.

Xarelto Bleeding Injury Claims

Did you or a loved one suffer serious internal bleeding or other complications after taking Xarelto®? Xarelto is a prescription blood thinner that has been linked to serious bleeding events that have caused catastrophic injuries and death.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to Xarelto side effects you may be entitled to compensation for your pain, suffering and medical costs. Call NOW, time may be limited. Our firm of experienced pharmaceutical lawyers will provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation review of your case. Act now by filling out the form or calling us at 214-390-3189 to discuss your legal options.

August 29, 2015

The Great IVC Filter Personal Injury Fiasco

by Dr. Shezad Malik

As a Dallas personal injury attorney and Texas medical doctor, I am highlighting the risks associated with retrieval inferior vena cava filters. Every year, thousands of patients are implanted with a retrieval inferior vena cava filters (IVC) but they are not warned by doctors about the risk of injury from these temporary devices.

And as time passes, patients tend to forget that they had this device implanted and the first inkling that they had the device, is when they suffer serious injury from a complication.

According to some experts, there is a very high failure rate with these devices, which only increases with the duration of the filter in the body, eventually all of the devices will fail. So 100% failure of the device becomes not a question of “if” but “when.”