Monthly Archives: July 2013
64 More Plavix Patients File Suit Over Bleeding Side Effects
Another Plavix lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 64 Plavix patients who allege bleeding side effects. Plavix (clopidogrel) is a blood thinner prescribed for the prevention of blood clots and heart attacks, and has been linked to serious side effects, such as the heart attacks and strokes it is ...
Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Concerns Grow in Canada
Canadian patients and doctors are voicing more concerns about metal-on-metal hip replacements, as health regulators around the world continue to investigate the safety of the devices. According to a report from the CBC, four companies have recently either recalled or suspended sales of metal-on-metal hip replacement devices, while a number ...
DePuy ASR Hip Implants, Other Faulty Medical Devices Subject to Little FDA Oversight, Investigation Finds
A newly-published investigation from ProPublica has revealed that several questionable types of medical devices, including DePuy Orthopaedic’s recalled ASR hip implant, managed to make it to market without much scrutiny on the part of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
Medtronic Plans Layoffs, as Infuse Bone Graft Controversy Continues to Weigh on Spinal Business
Medtronic’s spinal division continues to take a huge hit thanks to the controversy surrounding its Infuse Bone Graft product. According to a report from MassDevice.com, the company’s latest earnings report stated that the division saw Infuse sales decline 26% in the first quarter of 2012, and now Medtronic is talking ...
Failing DePuy ASR Hip Implants Sending Hundreds of Australians Back to the OR
Roughly 1,000 people in Australia have had to undergo revision surgeries because of failed DePuy ASR hip implants. According to TheAge.com, DePuy Orthopaedics has heard from more than 4,000 people in Australia and New Zealand seeking help with the recalled metal-on-metal hip replacement devices.
Former Executives Accuse Health Technology Firm of Fraud
Former NantHealth executives claim that the company made fraudulent claims about the reliability of its system, which links patient information gathered by the devices.
Whistleblower Wins Retaliation Lawsuit
A whistleblower who reported misconduct at Canaveral National Seashore has won a retaliation ruling against the U.S. Department of Interior, Florida Today reports.
Newly-Filed Plavix Lawsuits Claim Drug Caused Gastrointestinal Bleeds, Cerebral Hemorrhage, and TTP
The manufacturer of Plavix continues to be named in lawsuits alleging the blood thinner caused some patients to suffer from serious bleeding side effects. Most recently, the national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP filed nine Plavix bleeding lawsuits in state court in New York.
Pradaxa Named in Most FDA Adverse Event Reports for Deaths, Hemorrhage, Kidney Failure and Stroke
The controversial blood thinner, Pradaxa, surpassed all other drugs monitored by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in adverse event reports made to the agency last year. According to the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices’ (ISMP) latest QuarterWatch report, Pradaxa also topped the list for reports of deaths, ...Most Common Medical Malpractice Claims For Missed Cancer, Heart Attacks
A new, large study reviewed medical malpractice claims and found claims are most commonly associated with missed cancer and heart attack claims. The study appears in the July 18th issue of BMJ Open and was conducted by Irish researchers who … Continue reading
PODS (Physician-Owned Distributorships) at the Center of Growing Controversy, Probes, and Mounting Litigation and Injury Reports
The healthcare community has recently been the focus of controversy concerning questionable ethical practices and potential kickback violations. Physician-Owned Distributorships (PODS), which have been created in least 20 states, recently garnered the attention of a government watchdog group, which issued … Continue reading
Industry Promises Increased Transparency, Medtronic InFuse Debacle Cited
Some of the world’s largest drug makers have promised to release detailed information about their pharmaceutical products, such as Medtronic’s InFuse, to external researchers. While many are happy with the move, others point out that this might be a way … Continue reading
Brooklyn DA Cracks Down on Sex Offenders in Orthodox Jewish Community
In a major departure from previous policy, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes has made public the names of those convicted of sexual assaults in the Orthodox Jewish community. The DA’s office has convicted 45 men and one woman in sex-attack … Continue reading
Man Alleges Serious Injuries Due to Stryker’s Rejuvenate Hip Implant
A Florida man alleges, in a recently brought lawsuit, that he was implanted with a Stryker Rejuvenate metal hip stem device on his right side and, soon after, needed to undergo revision surgery to remove the device. According to the … Continue reading
Glaxo Agrees to $229 Million Avandia Settlement with Eight States
In response to lawsuits brought by eight U.S. states, drug maker, GlaxoSmithKline, has agreed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to settle actions over diabetes medication, Avandia (rosiglitazone). The drug maker announced it would pay $229 million and, in … Continue reading
Another Lawsuit Alleges Actos Caused Bladder Cancer
The makers of Type 2 diabetes drug, Actos, are involved in yet another lawsuit in which a plaintiff alleges Actos (pioglitazone) caused bladder cancer. In this case, the plaintiff, a New York man, said he took Actos from October 2005 … Continue reading
Medtronic’s Motion to Dismiss InFuse Lawsuit Denied
An Illinois state court judge just denied device maker, Medtronic Inc.’s, bid to dismiss a lawsuit brought over its InFuse bone graft product. The lawsuit included allegations that InFuse caused a patient to undergo additional surgery that led to permanent … Continue reading
Australian Regulators Issue Alert About Failure Risks of Stryker Spine Device
Australia’s Department of Health & Ageing issued a hazard alert for Stryker’s Oasys Midline Occipital Plate, warning patients and surgeons that the Oasys spine stabilization device might break after surgery. The alert was based on reports of device malfunction in … Continue reading
FDA Ruling on Menthol Cigarettes Still Pending
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just released a scientific review concerning menthol-, or mint-, flavored cigarettes, seen as a move closer to its making a ruling on the controversial products. The agency also sought public comment on “potential … Continue reading
