Drug Injuries « Berg Injury Lawyers

Archive for the ‘ Drug Injuries ’ Category

May

San Francisco Files Suit Against Insurance Companies

May 30, 2011

Patients requiring emergency services at the hospital are not the only ones having to fight tooth-and-nail with insurance companies to get what they need and deserve. CBS-San Francisco reported last Wednesday that the city of San Francisco has filed lawsuit against three prominent insurance companies. City Attorney, Dennis Herrera claims the three companies- Blue Cross of California, Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company, and Health Net- underpaid San Francisco General Hospital on emergency care reimbursements.

Herrera insists that the insurer’s shortchange will cost San Francisco taxpayer’s millions of dollars considering the fact that the emergency department at the hospital receives more than 50,000 visits per year. He was quoted as saying, “These defendants are putting on the backs of taxpayer’s the obligation to make up the shortfalls,” The city is seeking an injunction from the court that will force the companies to pay more for each claim, while also seeking civil penalties of $2500 for each infraction of underpaid claims.

Anthem Blue Cross responded by saying the claims have no merit and that they will “vigorously” defend their billing process and procedure.

Amgen, J&J Anemia Drugs Tied to Deaths, FDA Says

The California-based Amgen pharmaceutical company is in the news lately because its anemia drug, in addition to Johnson & Johnson’s competing drug, have been found to increase the risk of death in some patients and may result in faster-spreading tumors in cancer patients.

Amgen’s drug Aranesp and Johnson & Johnson’s Procrit may be particularly dangerous for patients with cancers of the breast, head and neck, lung, and cervix. There are many California drug injuries every year, but the notion of taking a drug that exacerbates the spreading of cancer is particularly terrifying as the drugs are designed to treat anemia, a side-effect of chemotherapy.

Click here to read more http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=az3NCQcUO984

Feb

Another heparin recall; allergic reactions possibly life-threatening

There has been an urgent nationwide recall of heparin units manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. The recall is the result of an increased number of adverse reactions to the drug, some of which may be life-threatening. This recall is different and apparently unrelated to the heparin recall reported earlier in the week.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reactions to the most recently-recalled heparin doses include stomach pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased or low blood pressure, chest pain, fast heart rate, dizziness, fainting, and a host of other dangerous drug injury symptoms.

The recalled heparin could cause serious California drug injury and even death.

Click here to read more http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/baxter01_08.html

Jan

Ortho Evra Warning Label Strengthened

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently updated the label on the Ortho Evra birth control patch, warning users that a new study shows users of the Ortho Evra birth control patch are at an elevated risk of developing serious blood clots, which can result in a serious California drug injury.

The blood clots are known as venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) and occur, according to the study, at a higher rate in women using the birth control patch than women taking birth control pills.

Blood clots can cause serious California personal injury and even death.

Click here to read more http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01781.html

Jan

Vioxx Settlement Update

On February 29, 2008, roughly 45,000 plaintiffs who suffered heart attack or stroke that qualify for the Vioxx settlement must enroll if they wish to be receive part of the massive $4.85 billion fund set aside by lawyers and the pharmaceutical company Merck for those injured by Vioxx.

In order to validate the money set aside—which could be taken off the negotiating table—85% of those people must enroll in the settlement.

The settlement amount is being divided up by tens of thousands of people, and some victims are claiming the share set aside for them isn’t enough. One woman who suffered a Vioxx-related heart attack lost her job and had to pay more than $200,000 in medical bills. Her share of the settlement is roughly $530,000, but she feels that since she suffered greatly, that amount is not enough.

Vioxx is believed to have been a contributing factor in California drug injuries—namely heart attacks and strokes—and has left many California drug injury victims seeking compensation for their pain, suffering, and considerable medical bills.

Click here to read more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119993021557679801.html?mod=djemWLB&apl=y&r=796175

Jan

FDA Takes Action Against Hormone Therapy Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against seven different pharmacies for their false and misleading claims over the safety and effectiveness of their “bio-identical hormone replacement therapy” drugs (BHRTs). The BRHTs were being promoted by these pharmaceutical companies as being better than FDA-approved menopausal hormone therapy drugs.

The pharmacies also claimed these BHRT drugs prevent and or treat Alzheimer’s, stroke, cancer, and other sicknesses, which is scientifically unproven at this time. The drugs all contain estriol, a compound that isn’t approved and which has not been proven safe or effective for human use.

Use of unapproved FDA drugs can result in serious California drug injury and possibly death. California drug injuries occur far too commonly and can have serious health complications.

Click here to read more http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01772.html

Nov

Avandia gets boxed warning cautioning of heart attacks

The Food and Drug Administration has just informed healthcare professionals of new, important warnings that will be added to the type II diabetes medication Avandia. Diabetes affects 20.8 million people in the United States, many of whom are potential California drug injury victims.

The Avandia boxed warning will now warn that Avandia may be associated with an increased risk of myocardial ischemic events (such as angina) or myocardial infarction (heart attack occurring because of a lack of blood supplied to the heart).

California drug injuries are all too common in this day and age and can have life-altering consequences. The FDA has advised healthcare professionals to closely monitor patients who take Avandia for cardiovascular risks and California drug injuries.

Click here to read more
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01743.html

Sep

AHRQ and FDA to Collaborate in Largest Study Ever of Possible Heart Risks with ADHD Medications

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will team up to perform the most comprehensive study ever conducted on prescription drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study will address the potential for increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular causes when using these drugs.

Vanderbilt University and Kaiser Permanente of California will help perform data analysis to determine whether or not these possibly dangerous medications may result in California drug injuries and deaths.

Click here to read more

Sep

Drug detox doctor accused of negligence

C alifornia dangerous drug injuries and cases of addiction are all too common in our great state. A well-known Newport Beach anesthesiologist thinks he may have a compelling, overnight drug detox program, but his procedure may be harming those it’s intended to help.

Doctor Clifford Bernstein recently discharged a woman from his care who developed pancreatitis and other health problems after undergoing his $15,000 overnight procedure which flushes opiate drugs (such as OxyContin and Vicodin) from the body of drug addicts trying to kick the habit. The woman suffering as the result of treatment by the doctor alleges her California dangerous drug injuries were the result of negligence and that Doctor Bernstein failed to diagnose her illnesses or order any tests when she was discharged.