At present, there are have been over 40 lawsuits filed against 3M over the Bair Hugger warming blanket, and I expect that number to grow. All of the complaints share similar allegations that after joint replacement surgery in which the device was used, patients developed catastrophic injuries, including infections, repeated joint surgeries, immobility and in severe cases amputations of knees and legs. According to the lawsuits, 3M knew about the hip and knee surgical infection risk for many years, but failed to make design changes or warn the doctors and hospitals. Continue reading
Product Recalls – July 2015
Experiment Allows Hackers to Wirelessly Control Moving Vehicle
July 25, 2015 – Fiat Chrysler recalled 1.4 million vehicles after it was discovered that security researchers hacked a Jeep Cherokee vehicle remotely through the radio. The company has recently been hit with $105 million in penalties for delaying recall repairs and is mandated to federal oversight.
Wired Magazine published a July 21, 2015 article called Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on the Highway With Me In It. The author of the Wired article, Andy Greenberg, agreed to drive the Jeep in an experiment conducted by security researchers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek. Miller and Valasek spent the last year researching the ability of hackers to remotely control a vehicle, in this case, a Jeep Cherokee SUV. Miller and Valasek controlled the temperature, radio, windshield wipers, and to the horror of the driver, the accelerator, through commands sent through the vehicle’s entertainment system. All attempts made by the driver to override the remote control and regain control were useless. Miller and Valasek also can turn off the engine, slam on or disable brakes, and obtain GPS information. Continue reading
Recent USDA Recalls
The following are the most recent recalls announced by the USDA:
July 18, 2015 – Poughkeepsie, New York: Gluten free chicken from Bell & Evans has been recalled due to a possibility of Staphylococcal contamination. The Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is found in hair, skin, nose and throats of animals and people. This bacteria contaminates food through improper handling and processing. Room temperature causes the bacteria to multiply which produces a toxin that can cause illness and food poisoning. For information on this recall, call Murray’s, Inc. at (800) 638-0215 Continue reading
Power Morcellator
Johnson & Johnson is once again in the crosshairs of another medical device investigation. Ethicon, a division of J&J, is the largest maker of a highly controversial surgical instrument known as a power morcellator. The FBI has launched an investigation to determine if J&J continued to market the devices even after it was discovered they could spread a type of cancer.
The power morcellator was designed to be used in minimally invasive surgeries and is often used to remove the uterus. The tool has rapidly spinning blades that cut tissue into small pieces that can be removed from the body through small slits made during surgery. But it has been discovered that when the morcellator is used in women with undetected cancers, during removal of the uterus malignant cells are sprayed around the abdomen and can actually speed the progression of the disease. Continue reading
Valeant Pharmaceutical Update
There was little fanfare in the business world earlier this year when Valeant Pharmaceuticals International acquired the rights to two drugs made by Marathon Pharmaceuticals. However what happened after that acquisition is raising serious concern.
With the deal, Valeant gained the rights to a pair of lifesaving heart drugs, Nitropress and Isuprel. The Wall Street Journal reported that on the same day bought the rights to these heart drugs, their list prices rose by 525% and 212% respectively. more
Blue Bell Recall
This week the iconic Texas Ice creamery Blue Bell announced a mandatory recall of all it’s frozen dessert products over concerns of contamination by the potentially deadly bacteria Listeria. This is the second recall for Blue Bell in less than a month. It follows an initial March recall due to Listeria found in half-gallon containers of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream produced March 17 and March 27.
Publix, our regions largest grocery chain with 763 stores in Florida alone, issued immediate orders to all its stores to destroy all Blue Bell ice cream. Other grocery chains across the southeast have issued similar orders to destroy all products produced by Blue Bell, the Nation’s third-largest manufacturer of ice cream. Continue reading
FDA Low T Warning
Serious concerns about the possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients using “low-T” products, have led the Food and Drug Administration to issue a new ruling requiring the makers of these dugs to alter labeling to reflect the dangers associated with them.
The FDA will now require the makers of “low-T” products, to make clear that using these products carries the possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The new labeling will also state that these drugs are only approved to treat low testosterone levels caused by disease or injury, not normal aging. Continue reading
FDA Approves Vyvanse for Binge Eating Disorder
Last month, after little outside input, the Food and Drug Administration swiftly approved Vyvanse — originally marketed as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drug — to treat Binge Eating Disorder (BED), calling it “an effective option to help curb episodes of binge-eating.”
Days after Vyvense was approved, retired professional tennis player Monica Seles coincidentally began appearing on popular television talk shows and was featured in People magazine sharing her struggle with binge eating. The timing wasn’t coincidental; Seles is a paid spokesperson for Shire, the makers of Vyvanse, and the face of the BED drug’s marketing campaign. Along with Seles, Shire also launched a website to spur social media and began providing funding for patient groups. Continue reading
Risperdal Verdict
Johnson & Johnson has been ordered by a Philadelphia jury to pay $2.5 million to a 20-year-old autistic man from Alabama – who developed size 46 DD breasts as a young teenager – because the company failed to adequately warn of that potential side effect from his use of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal.
This was the first Risperdal case to go to jury that was related to the condition gynecomastia – which causes abnormal development of breasts in males. The lawsuit claimed that J&J had knowingly hid the risks of gynecomastia, and came after several other similar cases were settled in recent years. Continue reading
USDA and FDA Recalls
The Topeka Capital Journal reported that the Better Business Bureau warned consumers of the dangers of ignoring product recalls. According to the Better Business Bureau, every product created is a possible recall candidate. Consumers who do not check whether or not their product has been recalled, could be placing themselves and others in harm’s way.
We, here at Saunders and Walker, P.A., try to keep you updated on product recalls. However, it is not possible to report on every recall of every product. For that reason, we strongly urge consumers to be proactive in researching products before and after purchases. Continue reading