Posts tagged "product liability"

People who take a commonly prescribed drug to treat a heart-rhythm disorder should be aware that the medication has led to several hundred deaths and more than 100 lawsuits nationwide. Pradaxa, a drug used to treat atrial fibrillation, has come under intense scrutiny in recent months after it was shown to have irreversible and deadly effects.

The anti-clotting drug was released two years ago as an alternative to warfarin, a medication that has been around for several decades but comes with strong recommendations to closely monitor patients through frequent blood testing, diet control and drug regimens. Pradaxa has been heavily favored because it doesn't require this monitoring, and appears to be more effective in preventing strokes. The drug has earned its manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, roughly $1 billion in sales. But it's also been linked to a frightening number of deaths. In 2011 it was blamed for more than 542 deaths and included in more injury reports to the FDA than any of the other 800 drugs monitored by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

The fungal meningitis outbreak has already killed 23 people and sickened about 300, and Ohio residents are among the victims. The cause of the outbreak is now clear: It is traceable to steroid injections that were administered by various clinics and doctors to relieve patients' back pain. It is possible that as many as 14,000 people received an injection of the steroid, which was contaminated with the meningitis virus before it left the plant where it was processed. As a result, patients and families who have been infected may have a valid claim for compensation.

The New England Compounding Center, the company that mixed the injections involved in the outbreak, has already been hit with a number of lawsuits. Some have questioned, however, whether that small business, which has closed in the wake of the mass infections, has an adequate amount of insurance to handle all the potential liability. Many people have instead chosen to file lawsuits against the clinics, hospitals and doctors who administered their injections.

As we discussed in a blog post earlier this month, an outbreak of fungal meningitis has affected people across the country. Unfortunately, Ohio is not immune to this outbreak; so far nine Ohio residents have been diagnosed with the illness, which apparently stems from a nationwide shipment of an injectable steroid from an East Coast pharmaceutical company.

According to the state Department of Health, a Warren County, Ohio, man is the latest victim of the outbreak. The 52-year-old hasn't been publicly identified and his current condition is unknown. But prior to that discovery, cases of fungal meningitis were reported in other areas of the state, including Hamilton, Crawford and Morrow counties. State health officials say the contaminated steroid was sent to 64 health care facilities across Ohio. About 16 of those facilities are located in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas.

Ohio-based Big Lots bills itself as the largest closeout retailer in the country. Their website boasts about how it sells a wide range of quality products in all sorts of categories - from housewares to office products and even home décor items.

With all their claims - emphasized in advertising with that walking exclamation point - consumers should be able to expect that the products they pick up from this large chain retailer would be safe. Indeed, surety of safety is something that is reinforced due to consumer safety laws. When someone suffers injury or wrongful death due to dangerous products, seeking due compensation is a legitimate option to consider with the help of an experienced attorney.

Summer's almost here, and with it come all sorts of toys for kids and adults to play with. In addition to all the bubbles, bikes and beach toys this season has to offer, many of the toys are meant to be enjoyed in or near the pool. But one toy has recently been recalled because it poses a high risk of child injuries. In fact, it's already caused some severe injuries and even a death.

Like a lot of other recalled toys, the Banzai Splash in-ground pool slide looks like a lot of fun. It has a fairly tall ladder and a steep slide that's intended to be set up next to an in-ground pool; by connecting a garden hose to the top of it, water can be sprayed down the slope. But according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it's also very unstable and can topple over sideways, even in non-windy conditions.

Parents in Ohio and nationwide know that child safety seats are essential to protecting their kids from possible injury or death in car accidents. Yet many have also complained that installing the safety seats in a vehicle can be very difficult.

New research seems to vindicate those complaints, showing that a small minority, 21 of 98, of the best-selling car models produced in the last two years designed their seats in a manner that make it simple to install the safety seats needed to prevent child injuries.

A brand of bicycle seat designed to carry babies and small children has been recalled after two children suffered serious injuries to their fingers, one involving amputation. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reported the recall of the Topeak Babyseat II, which has grab bars that when lifted to remove the children, can cause fingertips to get caught in the hinge mechanism. One of the injuries required stitches and the other involved a crushed finger.

Products that cause serious injuries to children are not all that rare, unfortunately. And the injuries often aren't as horrific as some of those that cause harm to adults. But because children are small, vulnerable and usually don't or can't read warning labels, we hear more about products that cause their injuries. On the upside, such recalls generally lead to safer products.

Americans use a countless amount of products to make our hair shinier, our skin softer and our facial features more striking and radiant. These products, some of which come from around the world, make us look great on the outside, but what are they doing to our insides?

The Food and Drug Administration put out a warning recently that some skin creams, antiseptic soaps and other beauty products might contain mercury. These dangerous products have so far been found in at least seven states. And some people who use them have gotten sick from mercury contamination.

Have you had a bad experience with a household appliance? Maybe your new toaster gave you burns. Or perhaps a toy you bought for your baby is an unexpected choking hazard. You can report all your product woes and read reviews from other people on the federal government's product safety database, which turns a year old this week.

The database allows consumers to report on safety hazards or injuries caused by ordinary household products. Users can also read other submitters' reports or search for products that have been recalled. One year after its creation, the most common complaints -- totaling about one-third of all reports -- have been about appliances, particularly those found in the kitchen. These included electric ovens and ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, microwaves, gas ranges and coffee makers. Footwear was another top category, along with nursery equipment, toys and home climate-control systems.

Imagine slogging half-asleep into your kitchen in the morning, desperate for your morning cup of joe, only to have it come spraying out of your coffee maker and into your face, giving you serious burns and a wake-up you'll never forget. That's what has happened to dozens of coffee drinkers who purchased defective brewers.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 37 cases of second-degree burns have been reported from Tassimo coffee makers, creating a liability for the manufacturer. The single-cup brewer is now a recalled product, and more than 1 million of them are being taken off the store shelves. The machine is made by BSH Home Appliances Corp., and the brewers involved include those that carry the Bosch and Tassimo Professional label.

Children who swallow magnets have a problem that may not pass. Parents know that children try to swallow all sorts of things. If a child swallows something small like a marble and does not choke, many parents usually do not worry. However, small but powerful magnets can cause deadly child injuries even after swallowing.

Magnets cause injuries that are more serious because they can attract to each other or to other metals across intestinal tissue. This locks them in place and obstructs blood flow. This can even perforate tissue, causing internal bleeding and infection. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) revised its standards on magnets in child toys in 1988. Magnetic toys are no longer allowed to come easily apart, and the magnets must be secure.

Cantaloupes containing the Listeria strand of bacteria have now claimed at least 28 lives and have caused more than 133 sicknesses that span 26 states. The dangerous products have been pulled from grocery store shelves, but the damage could already be done.

CBS News released the latest statistics recently, stating that officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that symptoms could develop up to two months after consuming the dangerous bacteria-tainted produce. Officials also believe the death toll could continue to rise.

With Halloween just around the corner, parents need to take steps to ensure the safety of their little trick-or-treaters. Unsafe Halloween costumes, in particular, can be a potential source of child injuries.

The first thing to worry about is whether the costume is flammable, as flammable costumes can all too easily turn the delight of a candle glowing inside a pumpkin in the tragedy of a child on fire. All too often, Halloween costumes can be the source of other hazards to children.

Zocor, also known as Simvastatin, is a popular drug that is used to control cholesterol for approximately 2.1 million Americans. The drug is designed to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as "bad cholesterol," while increasing the amount of high-density lipoprotein, or good cholesterol, in the bloodstream.

Many patients take the highest dose of Zocor, which is 80 milligrams, to control their cholesterol. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that Zocor has the potential to be a dangerous drug at that level of dosage.

People who take prescription drugs have the right to expect those drugs to help them with their health problems and be free from harmful defects. In addition, most people who want to quit smoking or using tobacco do so for their health. After all, smoking can cause a host of health problems, especially cardiovascular problems. However, many people who wanted to quit smoking have been exposed to a potentially unsafe drug that a recent study linked to heart problems.

For the past five years, Chantix has been a popular prescription drug used to help smokers quit, and about three million Americans presently take Chantix. Despite its wide usage, Chantix has previously been connected to health problems, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires Chantix to contain a boxed warning that warns patients of the risk of psychological side effects. In fact, there are about 2,000 product liability lawsuits related to the psychological effects of Chantix currently working their way through the federal court system.

When a company manufactures a dangerous product that harms people, that company is legally responsible for the injuries its products have caused. For decades, asbestos manufacturers hailed their product as a durable and fire-resistant solution for insulation needs. As a result, asbestos was included in a wide variety of products.

However, many people buying and working with asbestos products had no idea that the products they were using could cause them serious harm. Over the years, many people have developed mesothelioma after using and working with products that contained asbestos. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that most commonly affects the outer lining of the lungs.

Concerned lawmakers have recently requested that the FDA begin regulating chemical hair straighteners that have been alleged to cause health problems and other undesirable effects. The dangerous product at the center of the issue is known as Brazilian Blowout, which was recently found to contain high levels of formaldehyde, despite claims by its manufacturer that it does not. Congress has proposed amendments the Safe Cosmetics Act to allow the FDA to more easily pull such products from the market.

Exposure to high levels formaldehyde has been shown to cause hair loss, breathing difficulty, nosebleeds and an increased risk of cancer. In addition to affecting individuals that use the products, lawmakers are concerned that salon employees could suffer negative effects from repeated exposure as well.

General Motors is planning a recall of more than 150,000 new Chevy Cruze sedans for potential steering and transmission problems. The automaker says the move is a proactive measure, not one motivated by any consumer complaints. This is the second time in two months that the 2011 Cruze sedans have been called back to GM dealers in order to address product defects.

In April, GM pulled more than 2,100 Cruze sedans off the road to check for defective installation in steering wheel columns. That recall was motivated by the report of an incident in which a Cruze's steering wheel had spontaneously released from the assembly while a car was in motion. No injuries resulted from the incident.

Summer is on the way to Cincinnati and warmer weather means more families will be enjoying activities on, in or near the water. While most of us are familiar with traditional activities like boating and swimming, there is a new option available: walking on water.

With the aid of "water walking balls," people are now able to walk or roll around on top of water. Water walking balls are essentially large inflatable plastic spheres that can fit a person inside. They can be found at water parks, resorts and some private residences. However, there are serious safety concerns involved with water walking balls and product safety watchdogs are warning that they may be dangerous products.

Manufacturers of window blinds have begun installing safety features on their blinds and giving parents tips to minimize the potential for child injuries from the use of their products. These measures, according to parents and advocates, are not enough as children are continuing to be strangled in the cords at an average rate of one child per month.

Window blind manufacturers have been asked by The Consumer Product Safety Commission to design and implement a way to eliminate the strangling risks from the cords on their products or face strict mandatory regulations. Critics of the window covering industry complain that blind manufacturers have been dragging their feet on addressing serious safety risks for decades.