Many patients who are suffering from painful and/or limiting conditions will turn to an “advanced” drug or medical device for relief and to improve their quality of life. And that is precisely the reason that physicians prescribe such drugs to their patients, and that surgeons install medical implants, to begin with. Yet, the unfortunate truth of the matter is that defective or inherently dangerous drugs and medical devices too-often injure those who turn to them for help.
Part of the reason for this is that those who develop, manufacture, and market new drugs and medical devices often neglect to adequately test their products before presenting them to the public. These practices amount to putting profits ahead of people, and they lead to numerous injuries and even deaths. After the fact, all wrongdoing will typically be denied, regardless of how flagrant were the safety violations.
How Can a Dangerous Drug Attorney Make a Difference?
When you or your loved one has been seriously injured by a dangerous drug or defective medical device, your first step must clearly be to seek immediate medical attention. Your very next step, however, should be to contact a skilled attorney who is specialized in this area of law. Any delay in obtaining professional legal help could lead to reduction or loss of compensation.
An experienced drug recall attorney can ensure your rights are not violated with impunity. For example, you have a right to full disclosure in regard to a prescribed drug’s appropriate dosage, possible reactions with other medications, and known side effects. It is also illegal to market a drug that is unreasonably dangerous or defectively manufactured. As pharmaceutical companies will, in conjunction with insurers, fight hard to avoid the legal consequences of their unsafe products, you need a lawyer on your side who can effectively fight back against low-ball offers and outright claim denials.
At the Law Offices of Ronald B. Laba, we are fully familiar with the six main tactics big drug companies will use to try to deprive you of just compensation in order to fill their own pockets. Contact us today in San Diego or Vista, by calling, and we will answer all of your pertinent questions and give you a free case evaluation.
Below, we provide a list of some of the most common drugs and medical devices that often cause patients significant injury or even death. Simply click on any of the drugs/devices listed below to learn more:
- VAGINAL MESH
- RISPERDAL
- TESTOSTERONE THERAPY
- BYETTA
- DEPAKOTE
VAGINAL MESH
A trans-vaginal mesh is an implanted medical device that is used in the treatment of such conditions as pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Unfortunately, trans-vaginal meshes have frequently hurt patients more than helped them. Many have experienced vaginal pain, urinary infections, bowel/intestinal perforations and extrusions. In a few cases, complications have even led to death.
In fact, trans-vaginal mesh problems have been common and severe enough to gain the attention of the FDA, which issued warnings against potential dangerous side effects in 2008 and again in 2011. Following the 2011 warning, some mesh manufacturer’s recalled their products, but others continue to be marketed. Litigation seeking compensation for vaginal mesh injuries has proliferated since the FDA warnings, and even before that time, attorney Ron Laba has been at the forefront of obtaining full and just compensation for the victims of vaginal mesh implants.
While trans-vaginal mesh implants were designed to strengthen weakened vaginal tissues and stitch together damaged connective tissues, the FDA has found little evidence to support the claim that these devices alleviate POP. This is a startling find, considering that over 100,000 vaginal meshes were implanted for POP in 2010 alone.
Besides the pain and discomfort caused by the mesh implant, many women still retain the original medical condition that led to the implant to begin with. After being given hope that they had found a cure, they were left with yet an additional problem instead. To make matters worse, the mesh removal process itself can be painful and even dangerous.
While it is impossible to quantify pain and suffering in terms of a dollar-amount, negligent manufacturers must be held accountable financially if they are to be successfully discouraged from hurting others in the future. A lawsuit can also help you to handle heavy medical expenses, loss of income, and other financial impacts. At the Law Office of Ron Laba, we have three decades of experience in challenging pharmaceutical and insurance companies who drag their feet and attempt to escape making restitution for the harm patients have suffered. Call us to discuss the details of your case, and rest assured that our law firm collects nothing unless you do.
RISPERDAL
Risperdal, also known as risperidone, is a potent anti-psychotic drug that is used to treat psychological disorders such as
schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, bipolar disorder, and autism-related irritability. In 1994, the FDA approved risperdal for use with schizophrenia, and in 2007, it became the first drug approved for adolescent schizophrenia.
Over the years, Risperdal has been associated with a number of harmful side effects. In adolescent male patients, it can boost levels of prolactin, a hormone responsible for stimulating breast growth in women. Elevated prolactin levels in men can lead to the development of “gynecomastia,” a condition wherein males begin to grow breast tissues.
Risperdal’s manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, has faced allegations that it marketed the drug without first doing full research and failed to adequately warn physicians and patients alike of its potential side effects. This claim is bolstered by a Journal of Clinical Psycho-pharmacology study that came out in 2006, the year before Risperdal was approved for use with adolescents. The study concluded that the drug could “strongly increase prolactin levels” and cause gynecomastia. It also indicated that the full effects of the drug on adolescents were as yet unknown.
If you or someone you love has been adversely affected by the drug Risperdal, Ronald B. Laba is an attorney who has deep experience in cases involving this drug. Contact his law offices today for a free case consultation, and take the first step toward securing fair and just compensation.
TESTOSTERONE THERAPY
In 2014, the FDA issued a warning to physicians and their patients concerning the potential harmful side effects of testosterone therapy for men. The warning came on the heels of a joint study by the University of California in Los Angeles and the U.S. National Cancer Institute, which found that such treatment carried a high risk of heart attack, stroke, and other dangerous effects. Nonetheless, testosterone therapy medicines are still being sold to an unsuspecting public under such labels as AndroGel, Androderm, Bio-T Gel, Forestra and Testopel.
At first, physicians only prescribed testosterone supplementation for a condition known as hypo-gonadism, or “low T,” which unnaturally depleted men’s testosterone levels. In more recent times, however, testosterone therapy has morphed into a sort of “cure all” for men’s natural aging problems. Massive marketing campaigns have targeted older men and resulted in a burgeoning and enormously profitable industry. Studies, however, have confirmed that older men, especially those with past cardiovascular problems, are put at great risk by this kind of medication.
Some specific findings of these studies include:
- Men who are 65 years old or older are twice as likely to have a heart attack during the first 90 days of testosterone therapy.
- Men 65 and up with a previous history of cardiovascular disease are three times as likely to suffer from serious or even fatal side effects.
- Overall, men have a 30% higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack, including a fatal one, when on testosterone supplements.
- Those with previous heart attacks or strokes or with any of the following conditions are most at risk: blocked arteries, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and heavy plaque build-up.
If you or your loved have suffered harmful side effects due to testosterone therapy, do not hesitate to call the Law Offices of Ron Laba today for help. We can give you a free legal consultation and offer your our expertise in this area of tort law.
BYETTA
Byetta, also called “extenatide,” is a prescription drug introduced as a treatment for Type II diabetes in 2005. It works by regulating blood-sugar levels in the patient via two daily injections: one before the first meal of the day and another before the last meal. In recent years, Byetta has become extremely popular, but it has also become linked with several dangerous side effects. Certain of these side effects, including severe pancreas, kidney, and thyroid damage, can be life threatening.
After only three years on the market, over 100 reports of Byetta’s harmful effects on the kidneys and the pancreas were registered with the FDA. There were even two reported fatalities from necrotizing pancreatitis, a condition that leads to both pancreas infections and tissue death. Soon, the FDA worked with the Byetta’s manufacturer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, to improve the warning label on Byetta’s packaging.
The new labeling makes it clear that Byetta can cause irreversible damage of any of the following types:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Acute, necrotizing, or hemorrhagic pancreatitis
At the Law Offices of Ron Laba, we stand ready to fight for your right to full and fair compensation for all harm suffered due to the drug Byetta. Contact us today to discuss your legal options with an experienced attorney and to get started on your case.
DEPAKOTE
Depakote, also known as “valproate semisodium” and “divalproex sodium,” is a drug used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and episodic mania. At first, the drug seemed to work well in treating these disorders, but before long, many patients began to suffer from serious side effects. Most notably, however, Depakote has been shown to result in numerous birth defects when taken by pregnant women. These include such things as cleft palates, cardiovascular and spinal problems, and even prenatal death.
Some further birth defects related to Depakote, some of which are potentially fatal, include:
- Liver failure
- A hypo-plastic right heart
- Hypo-spadia, where the urethra opens in the wrong position in male babies
- Dys-plastic ribs, which are abnormally formed
- Various spinal problems, including spina bifida
- A malformed cardiovascular system
- Malformation of the skull, face, or hands
- Undescended testes
If you believe your baby was born with birth defects caused by your taking the drug Depakote during pregnancy, do not hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Ronald Laba today for assistance. You may be buried under a mountain of medical bills and facing a lifelong financial struggle to manage the condition caused by this drug. The psychological stress involved is also substantial, and you are entitled to full compensation for all hardship incurred by the negligence of others. Call Ron Laba 24/7 for a free legal consultation and immediate attention to your case.