Prescription drug safety is a major concern for the public these days. Sadly, the last decade is littered with the history of bad drugs which have resulted in horrific side effects, illness and death. These were drugs and pharmaceutical companies that were regulated by the FDA. Drugs we believed were safe and effective were, in fact, dangerous and defective.
In one such instance of this, the death toll climbs in fungal meningitis cases linked to steroid injections from a compounding center, and people are questioning the safety of our drug and pharmaceutical supplies.
Who is at fault?
The company at issue in the fungal meningitis case is known as a compounding pharmacy and is authorized to prepare only specific doses of approved medications, based on guidance from a doctor, to meet an individual patient’s need. It appears that the company actually shipped large quantities of drugs throughout the United States. Unfortunately, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only limited regulatory authority over compounding pharmacies.
According to the FDA, in any given week, half of adults will use prescription medications and some 10 percent will take at least 5 different ones. All prescription drugs have some risks. A prescription drug is considered safe when its benefits outweigh its risks.
Pharmaceutical litigation has shed light on the marketing practices of big drug companies. There is a pattern of drugs being developed, approved, heavily promoted for use, only to be pulled or recalled from the marketplace years after being prescribed and used by millions of people. Such use is often met with devastating consequences.
Does the Segal Law Firm have experience in this area?
At The Segal Law Firm, we have long been helping people and their families seek justice due to injuries from bad drugs. As just one example, The Segal Law Firm was counsel in West Virginia’s successful diet drug litigation involving FenPhen. Notably, when FenPhen was removed from the market, it had been in use for some six years subjecting hundreds of thousands of people to possible heart valve problems and other serious health conditions.
At present, there are many prescription drugs that carry new warnings due to serious side effects. There are others with new safety information and label changes. We must be ever vigilant to make sure our marketed prescription drugs are safe.
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective prescription drug, please call The Segal Law Firm to discuss your situation. The consultation is free and confidential.