Consumers Injured Consuming Raw Beef Infected with Salmonella

Food safety has been a growing concern in America and has been a hot button issue for many groups from federal regulators to consumers and special interest groups alike.  With good reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been taking increased action to clean up our food sources.  In order to prevent injury to consumers, these agencies have toughened their stance on food safety issues.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Production warn that 16 individuals in 5 states have been injured after eating raw beef.  These consumers were injured after consuming a dish called Kibbeh, a traditional Arab dish made of ground raw meat (usually beef, lamb or goat), bulghur, and minced onions. The dish that injured these individuals was served at a restaurant which used meat from Jouni Meats Inc. and Gab Halal Food of Troy, Michigan.  In response, these companies recalled over 1,000 pounds of ground beef last week.

The Danger Raw Beef Poses to Consumers

These 16 consumers were injured after consuming raw beef which was infected with the salmonella Typhimurium, a rare strain of salmonella.  These consumers have been injured to various degrees, with an estimated half of them requiring hospitalization.  Salmonella can infect people who ingest products tainted with the bacteria and can injure people in the following ways:

• gastroenteritis or food poisoning 
• bloody diarrhea
• toxicosis
• sepsis
• salmonella meningitis
• severe dehydration
• death

Consumers who ingest food infected with this dangerous bacteria are at severe risk for injury and dependent upon their existing health condition and other complications, could even be at risk for death.  

If you have been injured by consuming infected food such as this raw beef, you should call your physician immediately.  After you obtain the necessary medical treatment, you should also consider calling a product liability and personal injury attorney.  Depending upon the unique circumstances of your case, you could be entitled to compensation. 

15,000 Infant Recliners Recalled Due to Infant Deaths

When you're a parent, you want the best for your child.  Your baby's care is in your hands. Often, this leads parents to buy products that claim to increase comfort and care for a child.  One such product is the Nap Nanny, which is a device parents place their children in while they nap. Essentially, it is a recliner with a safety harness to prevent the child from moving around too much and hurting themselves.

However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling the item, stating they received 92 reports of infants hanging over the side of the device and 5 deaths.  The shocking truth is this product was originally recalled in 2010 after reports of one death. But the product's manufacturer, Baby Matters, is "unable or unwilling to participate in the recall."

Retailers Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Toys R Us are recalling the devices, which amount to an estimated 15,000 devices.  In response, the company released a statement expressing their disapproval of the recall and boasting the continued benefits of the device to thousands of infants.

What's the Danger?

Reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission paint a picture of infants nearly wiggling fully out of the harness, falling over the side and even becoming trapped between the recliner and crib bumpers. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, multiple reports to their agency have included:

• entrapment claims
• suffocation hazard claims
• fall hazard claims
• claims of deaths

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is encouraging parents to call them today to report similar hazards.  Additionally, you may want to consult a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney to preserve your rights.  Parents may be able to obtain compensation for their child's injuries.  To determine whether or not you are eligible, please call a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney today. 

Compounding Pharmacy Files for Bankruptcy Following Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

The New England Compounding Center (NECC) has filed for bankruptcy. Following a scandal which left them unlicensed and responsible for injuries to over 600 people, the company has shut its doors for good. To provide relief for the 39 people who died and 600 injured patients, the company intends to set up a fund to distribute funds evenly among injured patients rather than enduring litigation.

With between $1 million and $10 million in assets and an estimated $2 million in debts, the amount of relief the company is offering to patients appears to be quite small. With 39 lives cut tragically short by their tainted products, it seems unfathomable that patients would get so little.  Let's do the math here: assuming the company has $8 million to offer 600 patients in relief, that equals to a little over $13,000 per person. That's not enough to pay for hospital bills and expensive long term care let alone to compensate families for the loss of their loved ones.

The Dangers of Fungal Meningitis

To the over 600 patients who contracted fungal meningitis, these consumers were faced with a particularly dangerous and nasty disease that could cause the following:

• weakness
• loss of sensation
• abnormal body movements
• swelling in the brain
• hearing loss
• abnormal posture
• excessive blood clotting
• danger of strokes
• seizures
• gangrene of the limbs
• death

Fungal meningitis is treatable with long courses of antibiotics.  However, as was the case in this outbreak, patients faced significant resistance to the drugs and reoccurring outbreaks.  Patients did not experience a marked decrease in risk after treating their initial symptoms. 

If You Have Been Injured

If you suffered injuries at the hands of this compounding pharmacy, you should consult a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney to determine your next steps.  Patients may want to pursue another course of action and should discuss this with a skilled attorney instead of hastily accepting something. 

New Food Recall of Chicken and Rice Could Be Deadly to Consumers

It seems that food recalls have been the topic of the day lately.  Another recall has been voluntarily instituted following a Canadian manufacturer, Aliya’s Foods Limited, who found strains of listeria bacteria. 

Nearly 5,000 pounds of chicken and rice were recalled by the Canadian company.  Federal regulators at the U.S. Dept of Agriculture estimate that 240 boxes were shipped to Trader Joe's in multiple states, including:

• Connecticut
• Washington D.C.
• Delaware
• Florida
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Virginia

The affected batches carry the date 2012-10-31 and lot code 30512.  Consumers who discover they are in possession of these packages are encouraged to return the items for a full refund from Trader Joe's. Or consumers can dispose of the product. 

Effects of Listeria Bacteria

Listeria bacteria can be quite harmful to people when ingested.  People can become very ill and exhibit the following symptoms:

• headaches, migraines
• fever
• stiffness of the neck
• muscle aches and pains
• miscarriage
• stillbirths
• deadly infections

Consumers who fall ill as a result of listeria bacteria in their food should immediately seek out medical attention.  Additionally, injured consumers should also contact a skilled product liability attorney to discuss potentially being compensated for these injuries.

Generic Cholesterol Medication Recalled for Containing Glass Shards

There have been many recent reports of dangerous drugs, tainted medications, and products that just don't meet the high standards required for human use and consumption.  But this newest report certainly takes the cake.  Scanning the news this morning, the Wall Street Journal had an article that nearly made me choke on my coffee.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. is recalling 40 batches of its generic version of Lipitor, Atorvastatin, for glass shards they believe may be present in the medication. This is rather shocking news but the company has taken swift and decisive action to investigate how this could have happened, and have removed lots of the drug they feel may contain these minute glass shards.

Are Consumers at Risk?

According to the Wall Street Journal article, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. is no stranger to manufacturing problems.  In January, the U.S. Justice Department alleged very serious problems with the company's manufacturing processes and entered a consent decree of permanent injunction  at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Although facilities manufacturing the Atorvastatin line were not included in this complaint, the DOJ consent decree alleges very serious flaws with the company's manufacturing processes, including:

• failure to provide written evidence that drugs are being manufactured safely
• failure to follow up on whether drugs complied with their specifications
• failure to prevent cross- contamination of drugs such as anti-biotics, which could cause some people severe allergic reactions
• failure to prevent contamination of medications
• inadequate testing of medications
• alleged falsified data

According to this decree, the company is inable to produce certain medications in the U.S. market until these manufacturing problems have been fixed.  Could this recent voluntary recall prohibit the company from producing generic Lipitor as well?

If You Have Been Harmed

When consumers obtain medication from their pharmacy, they have a reasonable expectation that these medications are safe for consumption.  Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. proactively recalled batches they thought contained the glass shards, but if other batches were similarly contaminated, consumers could find themselves at grave risk of injury and even death.  If you have been injured by one of these medications, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.  Injured consumers may also want to contact a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney as well to obtain compensation for these injuries. 

Fungal Meningitis Victims File Suit

Victims of the fungal meningitis outbreak have begun to file suit.  At least 43 cases have been filed across the United States on behalf of the victims of the fungal meningitis outbreak alleging the New England Compounding Center and its sister company Ameridose were negligent in their operations, causing victims' injuries. 

As cases begin, attorneys are arguing to freeze nearly $500 million in assets belonging to both companies and their corporate executives.  One such asset is a beach home recently featured in Rhode Island Monthly magazine.

How the Victims of Fungal Meningitis Were Injured

In October, patients began to develop fungal meningitis after receiving steroid injections to ease pain in their back.  Of the nearly 14,000 estimated patients who received these injections, 34 people have died and 494 people have fallen ill with fungal meningitis. 

Patients experienced flu like symptoms initially, which if left untreated could progress to gangrene and even death.  These symptoms included:

• fever
• body aches and stiff neck
• nausea and vomiting
• sensitivity to light
• altered mental awareness/ alertness
• swelling of brain tissue
• rapid breathing
• changes and severe drops in blood pressure
• hearing loss
• swelling of the blood vessels in the brain
• blood clots
• heart attack, seizure, stroke
• gangrene
• death

This was a severe infection that patients discovered could even come back and continue to cause them pain and grief.  Physicians fought hard to treat fungal meningitis and in some patients, there was little they could do.  The CDC estimates the higher the dose a patient received, the higher his or her risk of developing fungal meningitis.

If You Developed Fungal Meningitis from Tainted Steroids

If you were injured by the NECC's tainted steroids, you could be entitled to compensation.  You should consult a skilled attorney who will advise you how to protect your legal rights.  Patients who developed fungal meningitis were at serious risk for death and many fought a difficult and costly medical battle against the disease.  Patients are encouraged to seek out the advice of a skilled product liability and personal injury attorney to obtain the relief they need.

THE FUNGAL MENINGITIS DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE

The death toll in the fungal meningitis outbreak continues to rise as of today.  The death toll now stands at 11 patients with 191 now ill.  Federal regulators estimate that between May 21 and September 25, approximately 13,000 people may have received the tainted steroid methylprednisolone acetate from the New England Compounding Center (NECC). 

Following the initial outbreak, the NECC recalled every one of its products and voluntarily surrendered its license to operate.  While federal regulators continue to investigate, the death toll continues to rise. Doctors and administrators are busy contacting thousands of patients to request that they come in to test for symptoms of the non- contagious fungal meningitis. Because the incubation period lasts from 2 days to a month, patients could have fungal meningitis without being aware of it. Patients who have received these steroid injections are encouraged to contact their health care provider today for an evaluation.

What Caused the Outbreak?

To date, federal investigators have found at least one tainted vial of fungus at the NECC’s facility.  According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), compounding pharmacies such as the NECC are required to abide by the strict guidelines required of pharmaceutical manufacturers.  However, these pharmacies are allowed to run virtually unchecked because of a legal loophole.  You see, compounding pharmacies are in the business of tailoring available medications to patient needs.  Therefore, using available approved medications, the NECC was able to change medications to suit the needs of the patient.  For example, if an elderly patient could not swallow a pill, the medication could be turned into syrup to swallow.  Provided these pharmacies used products already approved, they fly relatively below the radar.  That is, until a potentially deadly outbreak occurs.  Who’s to blame?

If You Have Been Injured

If you have beeninjured in this recent outbreak of fungal meningitis, it is important that you seek IMMEDIATE medical help to preserve your life.  You may also want to contact one of our experienced attorneys to explore your legal options.

 

CDC AND FDA REPORT FUNGAL MENINGITIS OUTBREAK

This morning the internet is abuzz about fungal meningitis.  Last week, complaints to the FDA and the CDC began to pour in from medical facilities across the nation.  This rare but life threatening outbreak has already claimed 91 victims and 7 deaths in 9 states.  As federal investigators continue their investigation, these numbers are likely to rise again.

Federal investigators tracked the outbreak to the New England Compounding Center (NECC), which distributed tainted steroidinjections.  These steroids, named Methylprednisolone Acetate, were tainted with a fungus which caused many patients to develop this rare and potentially deadly disorder. Approximately 76 centers in 23 states received these tainted medications and are now on high alert for patients who may have developed fungal meningitis. 

A facility investigation has revealed foreign substances in unopened vials.  When tested, the CDC claims these substances were fungus.  In response, the NECC has issued a voluntary recall of its products and has voluntarily surrendered its license to operate.  As investigations continue and the death count rises, the nation is on high alert.

If you or a loved one has received steroid injections between July 1 and September, you should immediately get checked by your doctor.  Fungal meningitis has a 1 to 4 week incubation period, after which you may experience mild symptoms which will rapidly deteriorate.

These symptoms include:

·         Headache

·         Confusion or altered state

·         Vomiting

·         Sensitivity to light and sound

·         Low blood pressure

These symptoms could rapidly deteriorate into the following:

·         Lack of blood flow to the organs

·         Gangrene

·         Excessive blood clotting

·         Death

Fungal meningitis is a serious health emergency and needs to be treated as such.  If you have any of these symptoms and have recently received medication from the NECC or have recently received steroid injections, you should get tested immediately.  Your life could literally be on the line.  

If you or a loved one has in fact been injured by receivingtainted steroids, you could be entitled to compensation.  You should consult an experienced and trusted attorney. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GRANUFLO AND NATURALYTE

Fresenius Medical Care, one of the largest manufacturers of dialysis treatment products, distributed dialysis drugs GranuFlo and NaturaLyte. What they failed to tell the public was the serious health risks involved in the treatment of these products.

You could suffer high health risk

If you’ve been treated by the dialysis drug GranuFlo and NaturaLyte and have suffered injuries or complications, you may be eligible for a claim. Contact one of our dialysis injury attorneys today for a free consultation.

Get help for your injury

Have you recently been treated by the dialysis drug GranuFlo and Naturalyte? If so, you may be at risk for serious heart failure, or even death. Here are some things you need to know about the products:

• Most patients receiving GranuFlo dialysis suffered heart attacks within 48 hours
• Fresenius issued an internal memo in November 2011 warning physicians and clinics of the high risks of using GranuFlow and NaturaLyte
• Fresenius never warned the public about the dangers of the drugs
• You may have received treatment from one of Fresenius’s 1,800 clinics across the U.S.
• Clinics not owned by Fresenius were never warned about the serious health concerns
• GranuFlo was used at clinics not owned by Fresenius
• You may be eligible for an injury claim if you’ve been treated with GranuFlo or NaturaLyte
• GranuFlo and Naturalyte were issued Class 1 recalls by the FDA in 2012

Contact our dialysis injury attorneys today

Though Fresenius issued an internal memo regarding the serious risks of using its products, the company failed to warn the public. If you have been wrongfully treated with GranuFlo or NaturaLyte, you may be entitled to a claim.

Contact our dialysis injury attorneys to determine whether you are eligible for compensation today. If you or someone you loved has suffered injuries or complications after receiving dialysis treatment with GranuFlo or NaturaLyte, you must seek legal advice.

PATIENTS AT RISK FROM GRANUFLO AND NATURALYTE

Many patients are at risk for heart risk and medical concerns without even realizing it. Recently, commonly used dialysis treatment drugs GranuFlo and NaturaLyte have been found to cause serious, deadly symptoms.

If you or someone you know has used GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, you may be eligible for a claim. Patients who have been treated with the drugs are being tested for pain and suffering. If you've suffered complications, continue reading and find out if you could be at risk for deadly medical conditions.

Here’s what you need to know about the serious side effects of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte: 

• Both drugs contain sodium diacetate. The high concentrations have been known to increase levels of bicarbonate. Once your bicarbonate levels reach a certain point, you will be extremely susceptible to heart attacks and other medical injuries.
• Metabolic alkalosis (or high bicarbonate levels) causes a variety of concerns, such as
• heart attack
• cardiac arrest
• stroke
•  low blood pressure
• death
• Patients who have been treated with GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are susceptible to bicarbonate overdose
• Those who have been treated with the products are at risk of suffering a heart attack within 48 hours of receiving treatment

Those who are most at risk

If you've been treated with GranuFlo or NaturaLyte, you are at risk. Fresenius Medical Care, the company who manufactured and distributed the drug, failed to notify other medical centers of the risks of taking the treatment.

As a result, the doctor or medical technician who administered the treatment on you might not have known about the high risks.

Contact a medical care facilitator immediately. If you have suffered complications shortly after receiving the dialysis treatment, then you could be susceptible to heart attack, stroke, and even death.

If you've been injured or ill as a result of taking the dialysis treatment, there is no reason you should suffer alone or in silence. Immediately contact an attorney to determine whether or not you're eligible for compensation.

Those who are most at risk for bicarbonate overdose include:

• Diabetic patients
• Patients with elevated bicarbonate levels
• Patients with history of diuretics or steroid use

What you can do

If you have been treated with GranuFlo or NaturaLyte, immediately seek medical attention and contact an attorney who can help protect your rights. GranuFlo and NaturaLyte are known to cause serious health concerns like heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, and even death.

Our dialysis injuryattorneys are here to help you

Contact our experienced dialysis injury lawyers today to get the compensation and justice you deserve.

Don’t suffer alone. We’re here to help you through each step of the process.

Suffering from dialysis treatments: are you eligible for compensation?

THE PROBLEM WITH GRANUFLO AND NATURALYTE

The dialysis treatment drugs GranuFlo and NaturaLyte have recently been found to cause serious side effects, heart risks, and in extreme cases, death. If you or a loved one has suffered complications due to receiving these treatments, you may be eligible for a claim.

GranuFlo and NaturaLyte were manufactured and distributed by Germany-based medical manufacturers, Fresenius Medical Care.

Earlier this year in March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration initiated a recall for NaturaLyte and GranuFlo. The FDA listed it as a Class 1 Recall, the highest level of risk in any level of product recalls.

Manufacturer misled the public

Though the FMC issued an internal warning within its company-owned clinics about the risks of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, it did not offer warnings to anyone else. FMC failed to warn physicians and clinics not owned by FMC about the products.

The internal memo was leaked to the FDA in 2012.

As a result, the products were recalled.

Why were NaturaLyte and GranuFlo recalled?

The manufacturer reported that the concentration of acetate and sodium diacetate contained in the drugs lead to a high serum bicarbonate level in patients. This caused high risk factors in patients associated with low blood pressure among a number of heart risks.

If untreated, these risks may culminate in serious heart conditions or even death.

How many injuries have been caused by GranuFlo and NaturaLyte?

FMC noted 941 patients suffered cardiac arrest in 2010 alone. The numbers only included patients who were injured in clinics owned by FMC. Keep min mind that other medical centers treated their patients with GranuFlo and NaturaLyte.

Get the help you need

If you’ve suffered serious heart risks or injuries due after using these products, you may be able to claim compensation for your suffering. Speak to attorneys who have years of experience handling complex injury cases and can help you get compensation for your injuries.