How Pharmaceutical Drugs Cause Harm

Americans are taking more prescription drugs than ever. In fact, research has shown that the number of prescriptions that have been filled for adults and children has risen 85% between 1997 and 2016—from 2.4 billion to 4.5 billion a year. We rely on prescription and over-the-counter medications to treat our various systems and get us back to optimal health.

However, many of the drugs approved for use have dangerous side effects. Whether these side effects are unexplored or are known but concealed by drug manufacturers, affected individuals may be entitled to seek compensation for their resulting injuries and illnesses by filing a product liability claim against the at-fault company.

Drug defects can occur when:

  • The drug isn’t properly labeled or lacks sufficient warnings about side effects
  • The drug was manufactured incorrectly, which results in an extremely high or low dose, or introduces dangerous contaminants into the drug
  • The drug was improperly tested and has dangerous side effects

Because the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) regulates medication sales, most people assume all FDA-approved drugs are safe, but this isn’t always the case. There’s currently a long list of defective drugs that are considered dangerous to our health and have been linked to complications and illnesses ranging from blood clotting to cancer. Some of these include the popular birth control pill known as YAZ, which has been shown to double the risk of blood clots, as well as the medication known as Zantac, which has been linked to cancers including breast cancer, kidney cancer, and stomach cancer.

Common Types of Medical Device Defects

Though we expect medical devices to fix some of our health issues or make day-to-day life easier, sometimes these products malfunction or break and cause injuries along the way. Often, defective medical devices require additional surgeries or medical care when they’ve caused further damage to our bodies or organs. The FDA receives around 100,000 Medical Device Reports (MDRs) every year.

A common example of a defective medical device is an IUD, or intrauterine device, which thousands of women have implanted every year as a form of contraception. Lately, some types of IUDs, like the popular Paragard IUD, have been breaking during the removal process, leaving behind sharp pieces of the device that can seriously harm nearby organs and cause infertility.

Other common defective medical devices that are currently being investigated or have been recalled include:

  • Talc baby powder
  • AMS transvaginal mesh
  • Hip implants or replacements, such as those produced by Biomet, Zimmer, and DePuy
  • Essure
  • Zofran

Why You Need an Attorney

Hospitals, medical professionals, and manufacturers alike have teams of lawyers specifically for combating legal claims. They’re generally prepared to deny liability and have handled product liability claims before, which is why you need to be represented by a professional who knows how to respond to these obstacles and isn’t afraid to hold large entities responsible. Our lawyers are committed to helping everyday members of our community and can put our experience to work for you.

Some of the damages we’ve been able to recover for past clients include:

  • Medical bills, including costs of additional surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, and more
  • Future costs of care, including physical therapy and medical equipment
  • Lost income or diminished earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish

Individuals who have been harmed by dangerous drugs or medical devices likely have serious injuries that may come with long-term consequences or be permanent. Cancer that develops after prolonged use of a particular drug, for example, requires specialized medical treatment like chemotherapy that can be incredibly expensive. When your future is at risk, you need to hire a firm that is known for its successes in and out of the courtroom.

For legal representation in Indianapolis, call our dangerous drug and medical device lawyers at 317-488-5500. Your consultation is completely free and should be taken advantage of if you want to learn more about your options after an injury.