Houston Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Injuries Attorney

The pharmaceutical and medical device industry is highly competitive and lucrative. Unfortunately, this means many medical products may be rushed to market without adequate testing. Manufacturers may not give full consideration to those who might be harmed by the product or drug. Medical devices and drugs may end up being sold to or used by the general public, and everyday people may end up getting hurt.

Despite what the public is led to believe, not all pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices are safe. Often, after members of the public are harmed, we are left to wonder whether the manufacturer knew of the danger and sold the product regardless. For example, NBC Nightly News has done a feature story on IVC Filters and alleged that the manufacturer, Bard, knew of issues with its IVC Filter, yet kept the device on the market.

Some of the Dangerous Drugs We Can Help Clients with Include:

• Xarelto – which has been linked to uncontrolled internal bleeding
• Celexa – which has been linked to miscarriage, premature birth, and birth injuries
• Zofran – which, when taken during pregnancy, has been linked to birth defects, such as cleft palate
• Paxil – which, when taken during pregnancy, has been linked to heart, lung, and other birth defects

What is the role of the FDA when it comes to bad drugs and devices?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is supposed to receive reporting on side effects with drugs and medical devices. Sometimes adverse event reportings form the basis for a recall or safety alert.

The FDA will issue a medical recall or instruct the manufacturer to issue a medical recall of a device or drug if the danger to the public is found to outweigh the benefits derived from its use. Many people mistakenly believe the FDA conducts their own testing of a product; however, a recall is usually in response to studies reviewed by the FDA indicating severe adverse events related to the product’s use. When a recall is issued, use of the product should be discontinued and removed from shelves.

The FDA may issue a safety alert regarding a drug or device. The safety alert notifies physicians and other healthcare providers of potential complications associated with specific drugs, without taking the products off the market. For example, the FDA could issue a safety warning to doctors and pharmacists regarding a pregnant woman’s use of Zofran without pulling the drug off the market.

Some of the Dangerous Medical Devices Presently in Litigation include:

• Hip Implants – certain hip implants have been found to be faulty, causing greater injury and the need for additional surgery
• IVC Filters – which have been found to break apart and cause internal injuries
• Bair Hugger Warming – use of this device has been found to increase the spread of infection in surgical patients
• Talc – a woman’s regular use of talc has been linked to ovarian cancer

If you believe you or a loved one has been harmed by a bad drug or a defective medical device, contact The Martin Law Firm. Clark Martin can help guide you in the right direction toward holding the manufacturer responsible.  The Martin Law Firm handles claims for pharmaceutical and medical device injuries.