How Dangerous Drugs and Defective Medical Devices Affect Consumers

You may think that the drugs that your doctor prescribes for you are safe to use because they have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But, all too often, this is far from the truth. FDA approval does not mean that the drug is 100% safe to be used by consumers.

The long-term side effects of new drug can be extremely difficult to anticipate. Despite this, many new drugs are sold simply because the benefits they offer are believed to significantly outweigh the risks to those who use them.

Examples of drugs whose side effects have been known to put the health and wellbeing of consumers at risk include:

• Actos (Pioglitazone)
• Avandia (Rosiglitazone)
• Chantix (Varenicline)
• Depakote (Divalproex Sodium)
• Reglan (Metoclopramide)
• Topamax (Topiramate)
• Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella)
• Zocor (Simvastatin)

The possible side effects associated with the use of a drug are often ignored by both patients and doctors. But not only do the possible side effects of dangerous drugs put consumers at risk, defective medical devices can also cause serious injury, disability, and hospitalization.

Defective medical devices are often the result of inadequate testing and a rush by manufacturers to get their product on the market. The FDA’s 510k process can be used to quickly clear medical devices for sale.

The 510k process basically allows products to be approved without submitting evidence of any clinical trials. The manufacturer only has to show that the medical device is substantially similar to another product already on the market. In fact, new laws have been passed in recent years that have made it even easier to get a product through the FDA’s 510k process.

Examples of unsafe medical devices that have been passed by the 510k process include:

• Artificial Knees
• Artificial Hips
• Surgical Instruments
• Pacemakers
• Surgical Meshes

Despite putting instructions and warning labels on their products, pharmaceutical companies often choose profits over safety in an attempt to be the first to the market with the next big medical innovation. This strategy ultimately jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of the very people their products are supposedly designed to help.

Overall, more than 1,000 bad drugs and defective medical devices are recalled every year. If you are concerned about a particular medication that you are currently taking, or if you want to see a detailed list of medical devices that have been recalled, you can visit the FDA’s website.

Call The Hayes Firm: Attorney Finding Service

If you have suffered because of a dangerous drug or defective medical device, you may be entitled to compensation and should contact a skilled and experienced attorney to evaluate the circumstances of your case. Contact The Hayes Firm: Attorney finding Service for assistance with finding a qualified attorney in your area. Call 1-800-603-6833, or leave us a message here to arrange a no-cost, initial consultation.