The FDA recently warned patients and doctors about a potential problem with certain Medtronic pacemakers. The batteries in these pacemakers may drain more quickly than they should, presenting a danger that the device may not deliver the appropriate pacing therapy. Should that happen, patients who…
Back in August 2018, a California state court jury awarded $289 million in damages to the plaintiff in a Roundup weed killer lawsuit, after which the Court reduced the verdict to $78 million. The plaintiff claimed that he developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after regular exposure as…
Individuals with diabetes and some heart conditions are required to check their blood regularly. For example, patients with heart conditions who are taking the blood thinning medication warfarin test their blood to make sure that they are receiving the correct dosage, and to avoid developing…
The FDA recently warned that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are taking the 10 mg twice-daily dose of tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) may be at an increased risk for blood clots and pulmonary embolism. The FDA has not approved this dosage for patients with…
Shortly after a California court linked glyphosate, the herbicide in the popular weed killer Roundup, to a plaintiff’s cancer, Los Angeles County officials ordered a moratorium on that same weed killer, citing a need for further research on the herbicide’s safety risks. “I am asking…
For years now, there has been a debate about whether Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer causes cancer. On March 20, 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released a statement saying that the herbicide glyphosate—the main ingredient in Roundup—was “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
As of September 30, 2018, the FDA had received 660 medical device reports of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), including nine deaths. Though not a form of breast cancer, BIA-ALCL is a cancer of the immune system that starts in the scar tissue…
On March 4, 2019, the FDA announced that Apotex—a Weston, Florida company—is voluntarily recalling four lots of Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol birth control tablets. The packs may contain incorrect tablet arrangements and/or be missing tablets. As a result of the error, patients may unknowingly
When metal-on-metal (MoM) hip replacement implants first came on the market, they were advertised as being superior to other types of implants, providing for a stronger and more lasting hip joint repair. Numerous studies later revealed, however, that they actually created more serious risks than…
After years of defending hip replacement lawsuits in courts around the country, DePuy Orthopaedics and parent company Johnson & Johnson have agreed to a $120 million settlement to resolve claims of false and unfair marketing made by 46 U.S. states. Though the company stated that…
When their 21-year-old daughter died unexpectedly in 2008, shortly after receiving the Gardasil human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, the Tarsell family blamed the vaccine for the tragedy and sought to hold the vaccine maker, Merck, accountable. They investigated the case and learned that their daught
The State of New Jersey recently released an inspection report detailing problems found at the HealthPlus Surgery Center in Saddle Brook, including a number of issues related to potential patient exposure to inadequately sterilized medical instruments. The Center sent out nearly 4,000 letters warnin
