Product Liability

June 1, 2016

Invokana linked to diabetic ketoacidosis trigger lawsuits

Invokana is a new class of Type 2 diabetes drug called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2). This class of Type 2 diabetes drugs work by stopping glucose from being reabsorbed into the blood. The FDA approved Invokana in 2013. In May 2015 the FDA release a statement warning doctors and patients that SGLT2 drugs may lead to DKA. If DKA is left untreated, it can be fatal.

In December 2015, the FDA ordered manufacturers of SGLT2 inhibitors to add warnings regarding the risk of urinary tract infection and ketoacidosis to the drugs’ labels.

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body does not have enough insulin to manage glucose levels. During diabetic ketoacidosis the body starts developing a waste product known as acidic ketone bodies by burning fatty acids. Ketones are what cause symptoms of ketoacidosis. These symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, confusion, vomiting, and dehydration. In some rare cases, ketoacidosis can cause coma or death.

May 31, 2016

Risperdal links to Gynecomastia

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Medical studies and recent lawsuits against the makers of Risperdal have helped highlight the links between the drug and gynecomastia, a condition that causes males to grow breasts.

A 2006 study conducted by Duke University showed that Risperdal was associated with gynecomastia and that it may cause lactation in girls, boys, and women not pregnant or nursing.

Despite this knowledge, the FDA approved Risperdal for the treatment of schizophrenia in children and bipolar disorder in both children and adults in 2007. The year after the FDA approval, the Wall Street Journal reported that Risperdal had been shown to increase prolactin levels (leading to breast development and lactation) and experts stated that up to 70 percent of gynecomastia childhood events were found to be caused by Risperdal use.

May 27, 2016

Nexium Side Effects Trigger Lawsuits

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A recent medical study has shown that people who have taken Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), such as Nexium, may be at an increased risk for chronic kidney disease.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that people who were taking the anti-ulcer medication Nexium may be 20 to 50 percent more likely to experience chronic kidney disease than those not taking the medication. The study indicated that taking the medication more than once daily or for longer periods of time, increased the risk.

Concerns about Nexium and other Proton Pump Inhibitor medications reach back to 2006 or before but the new results indicate that the risk of kidney failure is higher than previously thought. Researchers indicate that many patients taking the medications could have been discontinued without any adverse effects and that many prescriptions may have been given without a clear, medical diagnosis.

May 26, 2016

Nexium side effects lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Since first introduced in 2001, patients from across the country have been using Nexium to treat chronic heartburn and related conditions. While patients may have been prepared to deal with the drug’s disclosed side effects such as dry mouth, abdominal pain, and headaches, most were not ready for the drug’s more serious side effects.

Nexium packaging and warning labels don’t list a high risk of developing kidney problems and dementia as possible side effects, yet several academic studies revealed taking Nexium for an extended period of time may lead to developing these conditions.

This omission by the makers of Nexium have triggered lawsuits across the country.

May 25, 2016

Hip replacement lawsuits on the rise

by Dr. Shezad Malik

When metal hips are used in hip replacement surgery, patients can suffer from implant failure, metallosis, bone death, dislocation, and other serious complications.

Many patients experience relief from pain caused by osteoarthritis and increased mobility. But, like other surgeries, hip replacement carries its own set of risks and complications that require immediate medical attention or even additional surgeries to treat. The type of implant may also increase the risk for certain complications. For example, studies show metal-on-metal implants have greater risk of loosening or early failure because metal particles released from the device may weaken nearby bone and tissue.

Popular brands of metal-on-metal hip implants include Smith & Nephew, Biomet M2a-Magnum, and DePuy ASR and Pinnacle.

May 24, 2016

Faulty air bag lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Air Bag Lawsuit The largest recall in U.S. automotive history is on the way after federal safety regulators expanded a nationwide recall of Takata’s air bags to 69 million vehicles made by more than 14 automakers.

The move by federal regulators comes after the 10^th fatality linked to Takata’s defective air bags was reported. Recently, a teenager named Huma Hanif was driving a Honda Civic when she ran into a car in front of her. The air bag ruptured upon deployment and sent a metal shard into her neck. She died at the scene, becoming the 10^th fatality linked to faulty air bags developed by the company Takata Corp.

The incident highlights some of the dangers associated with air bags. Although they have saved many lives, air bags have also caused some deaths since automakers began widely using them. In the 1990s, for example, 200 people died in accidents in which an air bag deployed with fatal force.

May 24, 2016

Why file a lawsuit against Risperdal?

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Risperdal is atypical antipsychotic that changes the effect of brain chemicals. The U.S. Department of Justice said that the makers of Risperdal illegally marketed drug to children. According to a former Johnson and Johnson sales manager, the company didn’t wait to obtain FDA approval before promoting its use for children.

During a Risperdal trial in Pennsylvania, a Johnson and Johnson sales manager admitted that the company trained salespeople to promote Risperdal to children as early as 2003. This was despite the fact that the drug was not approved for use by children.

This has led to a growing number of lawsuits against the company by several men who took the drug when they were children and developed male breasts, a condition known as Gynecomastia. Over the past few years, juries have awarded $2.5 million, $1.75 million, and $500,000 in cases filed in a Pennsylvania state court. Several other cases are expected to move forward in the next few months.

May 23, 2016

Transvaginal Mesh lawsuits on the rise

by Dr. Shezad Malik

Problems with transvaginal mesh systems marketed by a number of different medical device manufacturers have caused women throughout the United States to suffer severe injuries.

Not only do these products pose a risk of serious complications, there is no evidence that transvaginal insertion of a bladder sling has any benefit for women when its primary use is treating pelvic organ prolapse.

Lawsuits are currently being investigated for women who have received any type of surgical mesh or bladder sling to repair pelvic organ prolapse, including:

May 20, 2016

Prevacid Chronic Kidney Disease Lawsuit

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A recent medical study has shown that people who have taken Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), such as Prevacid, may be at an increased risk for chronic kidney disease.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that people who were taking the anti-ulcer medication Prevacid may be 20 to 50 percent more likely to experience chronic kidney disease than those not taking the medication. The study indicated that taking the medication more than once daily or for longer periods of time, increased the risk.

Concerns about Prevacid and other Proton Pump Inhibitor medications reach back to 2006 or before but the new results indicate that the risk of kidney failure is higher than previously thought. Researchers indicate that many patients taking the medications could have been discontinued without any adverse effects and that many prescriptions may have been given without a clear, medical diagnosis.

May 19, 2016

Cancer survivor files lawsuit against Taxotere

by Dr. Shezad Malik

A lawsuit filed in California alleges that the makers of a popular chemotherapy drug misrepresented the drug’s benefits and hid side effects, including permanent hair loss.

Breast cancer survivor Ami Dodson filed a lawsuit against the makers of Taxotere (docetaxel) claiming the drug caused her to suffer permanent hair loss (alopecia). She also claims the drug maker engaged in marketing schemes to drive up the sales of the drug while hiding medication’s increased toxicity level compared to other similar drugs.

About 75 percent of all women who suffer from breast cancer in the United States are prescribed Taxotere.