Product Liability Lawyer Blog

November 12, 2015

Celebrity Endorsements for Potentially Deadly Xarelto

Xarelto is a member of class of drugs known as New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs). It is an alternative to traditional blood thinners such a Warfarin (Coumadin), which is often prescribed to patients who suffer from a serious medical condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib). Afib is a medical condition classified by an irregular heartbeat that causes stroke or heart attack.

While Xarelto has been shown to be effective in preventing stroke or heart attacks in Afib patients, it has a potentially deadly side effect. Thousands of Xarelto users have developed a serious internal bleeding disorder caused by the drug, and this can include intracranial bleeding. There are no warning signs or risk factors that seem to make some patients more likely than others to develop the bleeding disorders, and there is also no FDA approved reversal agent (antidote). Essentially, people come into emergency rooms with internal bleeding, and there is nothing doctors can do to save the patients. For this reason, the Xarealto related bleeding disorder is considered potentially fatal. There is an antidote for a Xarelto competitor known Pradaxa, but that antidote (Praxbind) is not approved for Xarelto victims. Continue reading

November 10, 2015

New 3D Knee Replacement Technology

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news article from WRAL, when a patient goes into the operating room to have total knee replacement surgery, the doctor will typically choose an implant size most appropriate to the patient. Essentially, artificial knees come in a variety of sizes, much like a pair shoes, and it is up to the surgeon to find the best fit.

While it may be the way it is done hundreds of thousands to time a year, the best fit for an artificial knee implant device is not always the perfect fit. When an artificial knee is not a perfect fit, it can lead to abnormal movement, including rocking that can ultimately cause the implant to loosen or even fail. This will lead to a tremendous amount of pain and suffering for the patient and can even mean the patient will have to have a second or subsequent surgery to have the artificial knee replaced with a newer or different model. This means that patient will have surgery again, then go through a long and painful rehab, and possibly miss a considerable amount of work as a result. Continue reading

November 7, 2015

Knee Replacement Surgery Relieves Pain, But at What Cost

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent report from Tech Times, a study has found that, while a total knee replacement procedure seems to the best form of pain relief for patients suffering from severe arthritis, there may be more risks associated with the procedure than even a well-informed patient might realize.

Study writers contend while total knee replacement is generally a safe and effect treatment for severe osteoarthritis, some of the safety data being used by the medical community in determining the level of risk was not based upon the most sound research practices. Continue reading

November 4, 2015

Watchdog Claims FDA “lax” When Reviewing Blood Thinner Pradaxa

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news article from the Washington Post, a federal watch group reports the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exercised “lax” judgment and made “questionable” decisions to be accommodating to the pharmaceutical maker Boehringer Ingelheim when reviewing its application for the anticlotting medication known as Pradaxa.

Some of the specific claims were that FDA set loose safety standards for use during the drug company’s human clinical trials for Pradaxa and also that FDA did not require manufacturer to provide a complete and appropriate warning to prospective patients about the health risks of Pradaxa. Continue reading

November 1, 2015

An Alternative to Testosterone Replacement Therapy

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

There are so many advertisements for low testosterone treatment with hormone therapy that it is almost impossible watch a football game on Sunday without hearing a soothing voice tell you how you can get rid of the normal signs of the male aging process by going to a so-called low T clinic.

You may be wondering why they are telling all men in and around their middle ages to get to one of these low T clinics instead of making an appointment with their primary care physician. There is a very good reason. The medical community is not convinced that testosterone therapy does anything for the majority of men who are taking the hormone. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved testosterone therapy in the early 1970s to treat a medical condition known as hypogonadism. This is a very rare disease that involves an extremely low production of testosterone. Continue reading

October 25, 2015

FDA Approves Antidote for Pradaxa

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Pradaxa, like Xarelto and Eliquis have taken the blood thinner/anticoagulant market by storm in recent years as an alternative to the tried and true blood thinner Warfarin (Coumadin). These drugs were designed to treat patients with an irregular heartbeat condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib).

Afib patients are at a high risk of developing large blood clots, which can form within the veins deep within the legs. This is a serious and potentially deadly medical condition known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The clots can break free from the veins in which they formed and travel through the circulatory system to the lungs where they can cause a hole known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). They clots can also block blood flow to the brain resulting in a stroke. Continue reading

October 20, 2015

71 Year Old Man Skies Following Knee Replacement

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

There is not question that people are living longer these days than ever before. However, not only are people living longer, they are able to live more active lifestyles that they could in years past. One of the reasons for this is because of operations like total knee replacements and total hip replacements.

According to a recent news article from Fox, a 71-year-old man is back on the slopes following a total hip replacement surgery. He was retired and loved to ski. He would be out on the slopes every chance he could get. However, after many years of kayaking, skydiving, and running, has cause serious arthritis in his joints and this joint disease caused him a tremendous amount of pain and suffering as a result of his knee condition. Continue reading

October 18, 2015

Kids Applesauce Maker Recalls Product over Mold Risk

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

When we give our children food, we try to make sure they are eating healthy and well-balanced meals. This is especially important as childhood obesity is becoming an increasing problem and kids are spending more and more time watching television and playing videogames, than playing outside and getting exercise.

According to a recent news article from ABC, the maker of GoGo squeeZ has issued a voluntary recall of its kids applesauce packets and other snack products they manufacture after mold was discovered. Continue reading

October 17, 2015

Hip Surgery for Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

A recent article from Medscape Multispecialty discusses how new studies show patients who suffer from psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or cutaneous psoriasis (PsC) do not have increased risk factors following total hip replacement, as compared to patients who suffer from osteoarthritis (OA).

Essentially, osteoarthritis is the far more common form of hip arthritis for patients who undergo a total hip replacement operation. This operation is also known as a hip arthroscopy, which is the medical term for a complete joint reconstruction or replacement. Continue reading

October 15, 2015

Risks Associated with Double Knee Replacement Surgery

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Recently, double knee replacement procedure has been an increasingly common procedure in hospitals throughout the United States. According to a recent article from Wall Street Journal, many people who suffer from osteoarthritis tend to put up with the condition until it gets to a point were it is unbearable and eventually decided to get a total knee replacement.

In the typical case, both knees are stricken with osteoarthritis to the point where they both need to be replaced. This normally involved having the more painful knee replaced, and then going back later for a second operation. A double knee replacement surgery, or bilateral knee replacement, as it is technically called, offers a quicker and more cost effective alternative to having successive traditional knee replacement, but this procedure, while new, has already managed to attract a good deal of controversy. The reason for the controversy is because some evidence suggests the risks may outweigh the potential benefits. Those who perform the surgery say one of the main benefits is that it does away with the need for a second hospital stay. This reduces the amount of time spent under general anesthesia, which is always a risk, and it also reduces the risk of developing an infection following surgery. No matter how clean a hospital may be, post surgical infection is always a risk. Another one of the claimed benefits is that it reduces the need for a second complete recovery period. Recovery is a painful and emotionally difficult time for many patients, and not having to do it twice is a benefit. Continue reading