As medical technology and research continues to advance in the United States, new prescription drugs are constantly released to the market. Statistics indicate that nearly 7 out of every 10 Americans take at least one prescription drug every day. Prescription drugs are designed to control symptoms and help to make a person well. Unfortunately, some drug companies produce harmful products that can lead those who use them to suffer adverse health effects.

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most commonly accessed and important in the United States. Depending on a person’s physical or mental condition, he or she may need a prescription or over-the-counter drug to treat it. While these drugs are often quite effective in curing an illness or sickness, mistakes made in producing, packaging, or distributing these medications can be extremely damaging for those who take them. Unfortunately, innocent users of pharmaceutical drugs and products may suffer serious harm as a result of several different causes.

About Our Pharmaceutical Liability Lawyers

If you or your loved one has been sickened by taking an unsafe pharmaceutical product, it is important to seek legal advice regarding the options which are available to you. You may be able to recover financial compensation for medical bills and other damages.

To prevail, you need an aggressive and skilled legal representative on your side. Contact a New Braunfels pharmaceutical liability lawyer at the Burch Law Firm at 830-331-5936 today to discuss your legal options.

Causes for Legal Action

Although prescription drugs are often capable of curing or controlling an illness, the potent chemicals upon which they are dependent can also pose a significant threat to the welfare of patients who use them. Tens of thousands of Americans die every year from adverse side effects from prescription drugs. In many of these cases, pharmaceutical companies fail to conduct proper testing on the product before sending it to the market.

Pharmaceutical mistakes can take many different forms, but three of the most serious and common ways in which people are harmed include:

Do not hesitate to fight for the financial compensation you need to pay for these unexpected and unnecessary damages. Learn more about your legal rights by speaking with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney.

Drug Contamination

Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs regulate a wide variety of physical and mental ailments from which millions of Americans suffer. Unfortunately, however, these products are sometimes contaminated, causing greater harm than good. It is the responsibility of pharmaceutical industry executives to prevent such contamination and ensure that all products released to consumers are safe to use. As such, when they fail to fulfill this responsibility, they should be held accountable for the many serious repercussions that often occur due to unsuspecting consumers using contaminated drugs.

Effects of Drug Contamination

When a drug is contaminated, it might be due to a mixture of the wrong ingredients, having too much or not enough of another ingredient, or the drug coming into contact with substances that have made it defective or dangerous. These contaminations can have many negative effects on anyone who uses it, including:

  • Illness / sickness
  • Nausea / vomiting / diarrhea
  • Internal organ damage
  • Persistent headache / migraine
  • Trauma to one’s nervous system
  • Bloodstream contamination
  • Fatality

All of these ramifications of a contaminated drug are, sadly, not only possible, but also ones which affect many people each year because of drug contamination.

Drug Recalls

Despite the numerous drugs that pharmaceutical companies make every year, it is critical that they act carefully and responsibly during every step of the manufacturing and production process for each and every drug. This is important so as to ensure that drugs do not recklessly endanger the health and well-being of the consumers who use them. However, many companies fail to create and market all their drugs with the care and attention that is needed, causing a recall to be issued. Sadly, far too many consumers are harmed by these drugs before a recall occurs.

In these instances, those so affected may be able to take legal action against the negligent drug company, as professionally handled drugs should not cause serious and unreasonable repercussions. By taking such action, a person can often recover many of the costs and expenses that they accrued because of the defective or harmful drug.

Reasons for Recall

Drugs might be recalled for any number of reasons; however, it is usually due to the drug posing a serious danger to consumers. Some potential reasons for drug recalls might include:

  • Drug contaminants
  • Bacterial growth in drugs
  • Ineffective ingredients
  • Mishandling of drugs / ingredients
  • Made with wrong ingredients
  • Fatality risk / unforeseen side effects
  • False advertising / inadequate marketing

Any of these could lead to the recall of a particular drug. Tragically, these recalls often come too late for many people. In lots of cases, those exposed to recalled drugs suffer from a variety of physical or mental complications that might leave them physically and financially distressed.

What is the Drug Supply Chain Security Act?

Every day, many Texas residents rely on prescription medications to keep them healthy. These medications are, in some cases, literally keeping people alive. Therefore, it’s very important that these medications are the best quality possible. They should not be contaminated, poorly made or otherwise dangerous for consumers. However, all too often prescription drug recalls are necessary to take dangerous drugs off the market. Many people may wonder who such errors can be prevented.

In Nov. 2013, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act was signed by President Obama. This new law has facilitated the creation of various protections for prescription drugs. Over the next 10 years, companies have to create new ways to keep people safe from contaminated drugs. In particular, this law will require companies to have ways to verify the legitimacy of drugs that have been made overseas and shipped into the United States.

Specifically, prescription drug manufacturers, distributors, packagers and dispensers will need to work together with the Food and Drug Administration to create this safer system. The DSCSA requires drugs to be labeled with bar codes that allow the product to be easily identified and traced. This is supposed to make the drugs easier to quarantine and to implement a prescription drug recall in case of emergency.

Additionally, under the law, groups must develop a way to notify each other of potential problems — in particular if an illegitimate drug has been distributed. Again, this will quickly help spread the word about potentially dangerous products.

During the 10 years that these groups have to implement these changes, Texas consumers may be at risk. Drug contamination can easily cause serious and life threatening medical issues. While this post cannot give specific legal advice to those affected by contaminated drugs, an attorney may be able to help.

Hold Drug Companies Liable for Dangerous and Contaminated Drugs

As Texas’ population ages, more people will rely on prescription drugs to help keep them healthy. However, prescription drug companies are continuously trying to lower their bottom line. When costs are cut, services are outsourced or mistakes are made, people can get hurt. Products released to market are often not safe for consumption and lead to serious injuries or consumer death.

Our law firm understands the ramifications of drug contamination. We know that even a small change in the mixture can lead to devastating results for Texas residents. Since prescription drug companies are big business, they can be intimidating to challenge on your own. People may not fully understand their rights when a prescription drug has made them sick or caused permanent damage — but, we do.

We know how to fight for your rights following a drug contamination. We are not intimidated by drug companies or their aggressive legal teams. Instead, we fight for people’s rights and explore every possible solution. With our help, people can get the compensation they need to move past the physical and emotional pain caused by a manufactures’ negligence. Our firm holds prescription drug companies to the highest standard to protect citizens now and in the future.

Contact Our New Braunfels Pharmaceutical Liability Attorneys

At the Burch Law Firm, we are committed to doing everything we can to help you to seek the compensation you need. Contact our New Braunfels pharmaceutical liability attorneys by calling 830-331-5936 to schedule a free initial consultation when you have been harmed by a faulty pharmaceutical product.