Defective Drugs & Medical Devices

The Trial Lawyers at The Ferraro Law Firm

Drugs and implanted medical devices certainly can work wonders for patients suffering from serious health conditions such as heart disease or painful arthritis. Diseases like AIDS and certain types of cancer that carried a death sentence only 10 or 15 years ago can now be treated with drugs that add years to a patient's life. For patients with irregular heartbeats, doctors can install defibrillators with leads to sense the cardiac rhythm and deliver shocks as needed to pace the heart. 

Unfortunately, there is also a dark side to the progress made by pharmaceutical and medical device companies. In today's rush to create the next "blockbuster" drug or implantable medical device, the full impact of new prescriptions and medical devices may not be fully realized until innocent patients begin to suffer or die from harmful side effects and product defects.

If dangerous medications and medical devices have robbed you of your health and well-being, contact The Ferraro Law Firm. We represent a large number of clients in lawsuits involving defective drugs and medical devices, including persons injured by Vioxx more than 50 autistic children who were given pediatric vaccines containing Thimerosal. We are one of the top five law firms in the nation handling lawsuits involving exposure to asbestos.

Contact the Lawyers at The Ferraro Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation.

Examples of Defective Drugs

• Bextra and Vioxx, arthritis drugs associated with an increased risk of heart attack, blood clots and strokes. Vioxx has also been linked to meningitis, with research still underway to gain more information.
• Ortho McNeil birth control patches, linked to a 300% increase in the rate of fatal blood clots in women.
• Seroquel, the popular anti-psychotic drug prescribed for schizophrenia, delusions and hallucinations that has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).
• Paxil, an antidepressant drug linked to physical and psychological problems when people stop taking it.
• Accutane, an acne drug that has been linked to depression and suicide.
• Thimerosal, a mercury–laden preservative in vaccines that has been linked to autism.
• OxyContin, a narcotic analgesic painkiller that has been linked to highly addictive behavior and numerous deaths.
• Fen Phen, a combination of the drugs fenfluramine (Pondimin) and phentermine frequently used to treat obesity that has been linked to heart valve injuries.
• Baycol, an anti-cholesterol drug linked to dozens of deaths and severe side effects, including a rare muscle-wasting syndrome known as rhabdomyolysis.
• Serzone, an anti-depressant produced linked to possible life-threatening liver failure.
• Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), an ingredient commonly found in diet drugs, nasal decongestants and cough medications, which has been linked to dangerous hemorrhagic strokes (bleeding in the brain).
• Viagra, which can cause blindness in certain instances.
• Paxil®, also known as paroxetine, linked to birth defects such as ventricular septal defects.

Examples of Defective Medical Devices

• Guidant defibrillators, which are subject to short-circuit and malfunction.
• Guidant pacemakers, which can leak and cause the pacemakers to accelerate the heartbeat.
• Taxus express stents, which can injure patients during the implanting procedure.
• Hemashield ® VANTAGE™ Vascular Graft, which can fray or tear during suturing and lead to post-operative complications.
• Vail enclosed bed systems, which can entrap and suffocate patients.
• Baxter Healthcare’s Colleague Volumetric Infusion, which can shut down while delivering critical medication and fluids to patients.

Learn more: Articles and Resource and our Defective Drugs & Medica Devices Practice Center.

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