The Injury Lawyer Blog

On Tuesday, the pacemaker manufacturer Guidant stated that it received a warning letter from the FDA, based on a previous agency inspection of a rhythm management facility in St. Paul, Minnesota. Since this inspection, Guidant has been required to provide monthly progressive updates, and has completed 90% of its commitments. The new letter, received by guidant on Friday the 23rd of December, states that the company will continue to receive information on additional steps necessary, as a result of this inspection.

The FDA's assertive nature and white-glove insistance on perfection should prove to any consumer that defective medical devices should not, under any circumstances, be tolerated. The manufacturer holds total responsibility for the product it sets forth into the market. Don't let product malfunction hurt you or your loved ones beyond physical injury, consult experienced product liability attorneys.

Paxil, an anti-depressant medication, is being asked for a change in label from the FDA. Paxil has been discovered to have a potentially serious effect on the developing fetus in women 1-3 months pregnant who take the drug. Women who take Paxil during the first 3 months of pregnancy have a 1.5 to 2 times greater chance of the fetus developing a birth defect than women on other anti-depressants or women who do not take anti-depressants.

While this all sounds frightening, and it may be frightening for some women who run into the worse of these odds, keep in mind that the benefits of Paxil, for some women, may outweigh the risks to the fetus. The potential danger to the fetus from Paxil is that it may develop holes in the walls of its heart chambers. These can be extremely severe, but they can also be so minor that they repair on their own. Paxil is still FDA approved, taking into consideration the new warning label.

While this is a serious matter, the best way to deal with any concerns you may have is to consult your doctor and personal injury lawyer. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jacoby & Meyers.

The FDA has identified nine companies that have tried to profit from the wide-spreading avian flu fear by marketing products, some said to be supplements, that "prevent avian flu", "treats the avian flu", "kills the virus", or is "a natural virus sheild". FDA commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach stated that "The use of unproven flu cures and treatments increases the risk of catching and spreading the flu rather than lessening it because people assume they are protected and safe and they aren't. I consider it a public health hazard when people are lured into using bogus treatments based on deceptive or fraudulent medical claims."

So be wary of those medicines and supplements that proclaim safety from the flu-they may have your wallet in mind more than they do your health. The Centers for Disease Control has said that the one best thing you could possibly do to help prevent seasonal flu is to be sure to get a vaccination each fall. The seasonal flu is also a concern for those who are worried about avian flu, because if someone faces a possibility of running into avian flu and has both diseases, there is a fear the viruses could mutate into one large virus that spreads very quickly.

If you feel uncertain of any medications, or feel that a company is taking advantage of your health for your money, you may want to consult a personal injury lawyer.