Defective & Dangerous Products

• Merck Spins Vioxx Risks, Again

  Staff Writer | May 24, 2006 11:13 AM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  You can't believe everything you read, even in Medical Journals. Merck deliberately withheld information about three heart attacks from its data when the New England Journal of Medicine reported on VIoxx in March of 2000. Recently, Merck's spin machine is citing new data about patients who stopped using Vioxx after its recall to suggest that it reinforces Merck's argument that only patients...

• Beware of Off Label Prescriptions

  Staff Writer | May 11, 2006 10:14 AM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  Just because the FDA approves a drug for a specific purpose, that does NOT mean that the drug is safe or effective for other off-label uses. A recent study by the Stanford Prevention Research Center revealed that 15% of prescriptions were for off-label uses lacking scientific support, most commonly among heart drugs (excluding those for cholesterol and high blood pressure) and...

• Evenflo Recalls Car Seats

  Jamie G. Goldstein | May 18, 2007 7:20 AM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  Evenflo has announced it is recalling approximately 3.4 million Joyride infant car seats/carriers. These car seats, when used as a carrier, can cause serious injury to infants. There have been 240 reports of the handle on the carrier unexpectedly breaking and causing the carrier to flip over and fall. Injuries have been reported in 97 of these incidents.Evenflo has agreed to make repairs to...

• Recall of Fentanyl Pain Management Patches

  Jamie G. Goldstein | February 20, 2008 4:14 PM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  The FDA announced on February 19, 2008 that Actavis Inc. is recalling certain Fentyl transdermal patches. These patches may be defective causing an excess amount of medication to be administered to the patient. This overdose of medication can lead to respiratory depression and possible fatal overdose. The recall extended to patches with doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mcg/hr. It is not known at...

• Medtronic Recalls Sprint Fidelis Leads, What's Next For Patients?

  Jamie G. Goldstein | November 03, 2007 4:28 PM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  Medtronic recalled its Sprint Fidelis defibrillator leads approximately two weeks ago after several reports of people receiving shocks. The shocks result from tiny fractures in the leads. The fractures may also cause the defibrillator not to work at all. Medtronic is suggesting that patients have doctors adjusted the frequency in their defibrillators which may reduce the chance of...

• FDA Finds Adderall Risk To Children

  Staff Writer | February 14, 2006 4:33 PM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  Responding to a 2005 Study, the FDA Advisory Committee has found a link between Adderall, a popular drug for children with attention deficity hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death. The Chairman of the FDA Drug and Risk Management Advisory Committee said that the panel will need to find a safe way to study the risks while the drug is still...

• Stand 'n Seal Grout Sealer Linked to Chemical Pneumonia

  Jamie G. Goldstein | October 30, 2007 5:45 PM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  Approximately 200 people have filed lawsuits against Home Depot and the manufacturer of Stand 'n Seal grout sealer after falling ill from using Stand 'n Seal. People are complaining of severe breathing problems after using the grout sealer, including chemical pneumonia. One man, Dr. Walter Friedel, said he became so ill he was in the intensive care unit for 4 days and was on oxygen for 4...

• Another Chinese Manufacturer Cited in Toy Recall

  Jamie G. Goldstein | August 14, 2007 10:05 AM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  The latest recall issued in the toy world is by Mattell for 9 million of its toys. The list includes character dolls Batman, Barbie, Polly Pockets as well as several others. The fear is the magnets in the toys will be swallowed by children and cause harmful affects and possible death. These toys were all manufactured in China.In recent weeks and months scores of recalls have been issued...

• Menu Food Pet Food Recall

  Jamie G. Goldstein | March 20, 2007 10:17 AM | 1 CommentChicago, IL

  The FDA has recalled certain types of Menu Food cat and dog food. The recall was released on March 17, 2007. The products that are affected by the recall are numerous and can be found on the Menu Foods, Inc. website. The contaminated food causes kidney failure in the animals and there have been ten deaths reported thus far. It is likely that the contaminated food has affected many more cats...

• Playing Fast and Loose With Fast Foods

  Staff Writer | June 26, 2006 1:47 PM | 0 CommentsChicago, IL

  Do you bellieve Fast Food Restaurants should warn customers that their menu items are fatty? How about the Trans-Fat amounts? The recent lawsuit by the Center for Science in the Public Interest against KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) raises the question of whether the Courts are appropriate places to educate public and teach Fast Food chains a lesson about proper labeling. Consumers do have a...