Dangerous Drug Attorneys
Demand Justice. Our Lawyers Hold Companies Accountable in MA & CT
Many medications and prescription drugs make people's lives better. Unfortunately, they can also cause serious harm. Whether it's due to a dangerous drug combination or mistakes made by pharmaceutical manufacturers, a dangerous drug lawyer at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone in Massachusetts or the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli in Connecticut can help you hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.
Many medications can cause severe injuries and life-threatening health problems.
When physicians prescribe medications and pharmaceutical companies manufacture them, they have a legal and moral responsibility to make sure that patients do not take anything that could injure them. Sadly, many companies put profits ahead of safety and rush such products to market. And many doctors carelessly prescribe such drugs without carefully considering harmful side effects.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug, it's critical that you take immediate legal action to protect your rights. Otherwise, you could forfeit your right to obtain compensation for medical bills, lost income and other expenses associated with your injury. This is especially important if you sustained a permanent injury or a loved one died due to taking dangerous drugs.
Know The Facts
What are common dangerous drugs?
Any prescription drug or over-the-counter medication can potentially be dangerous. But certain drugs can be more dangerous than others. Many of the most common medications that cause dangerous side effects that we deal with include:
Zofran and the generic version are prescribed to treat morning sickness, but the anti-nausea medication has been linked to the following birth defects when used by pregnant women during the first trimester:
- Congenital heart defects (CHD)
- Hole in heart
- Cleft lip / cleft palate
- Spina bifida
- Limb deformities
In 1991, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zofran to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and radiation. However, the FDA did not approve Zofran to treat morning sickness, but GlaxoSmithKline promoted off-label use of the drug. In 2012, the global pharmaceutical giant agreed to pay $3 billion to settle a variety of allegations, including that it was illegally promoting Zofran for non-approved use.
Zofran and birth defects
A study in 2012, published by the Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, found that women who used the drug ondansetron (Zofran or generic) during the first trimester of pregnancy experienced a two-fold increased risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects.
In December 2012, the FDA issued a safety alert to medical care providers stating that the 32 mg, single intravenous dose of Zofran should not be used because of the potential for serious cardiac risks.
The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone and the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli are now offering free case evaluations to any woman or family whose child suffered birth defects allegedly as a result of the mother's use of Zofran during the first trimester of pregnancy. Our attorneys are also reviewing potential cases involving the use of the generic version of Zofran, ondansetron.
Talcum powder has been used on babies for generations to treat diaper rash. Women also have used talcum powder on their bodies for hygiene, which prompted Johnson & Johnson to market talcum-based powders such as the brand Shower to Shower.
Recent studies have found a link between women's use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene and ovarian cancer. Dr. Daniel Cramer of Harvard University found an increased risk for ovarian cancer when women used talc powder. He estimated that thousands of women each year receive cancer diagnoses that can be traced to the use of talc-based baby powder and body powder.
Talcum powder linked to ovarian cancer
If you or a loved one used talcum powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, contact us for a free, confidential consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for medical care, pain and suffering and other losses related to ovarian cancer.
According to talcum powder lawsuits already filed, Johnson & Johnson has known since 1982 about studies linking use of the product by women for genital hygiene and ovarian cancer. Talcum powder, when used on genitals to keep skin dry and prevent rashes, can travel into the ovaries where the particles can cause inflammation. The irritation can lead to growth of cancer cells.
Johnson & Johnson has never issued a warning to the public, despite studies suggesting the link between its product and a higher rate of ovarian cancer. We believe J&J should be held accountable and encourage you to contact us immediately if you or a loved one was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder.
These medications were created to reduce the amount of acid in a person's stomach. If people have too much acid in their stomach, they can develop ulcers in the stomach and other parts of the body, including the esophagus. There are many different types of proton-pump inhibitors, including:
- dexlansoprazole (Dexilent)
- esomeprazole (Nexium)
- lansoprazole (Prevacid)
- omeprazole (Prilosec)
Unfortunately, serious side effects have been associated with some PPI medications. In particular, some patients face the risk of kidney failure due to long-term use of PPIs. Studies have also found that some older patients have an increased risk of bone fractures due to taking PPIs. And other people who stop taking PPIs find that they sometimes have even more acid in their stomach than before they started taking such medications. PPIs have also been linked with birth defects among women taking PPIs during pregnancy.
If you experienced any of these adverse medical problems, contact our law firm immediately and schedule an appointment with one of our experienced, PPI injury attorneys. You may have grounds for a legitimate lawsuit or be able to participate in a class-action lawsuit.
A powerful, opioid medication often worn as a patch to treat severe pain, fentanyl has been linked to several, serious health problems. Fentanyl (which includes the brands of Duragesic, Abstral, Subsys and Sublimaze) can also be taken intravenously or in the form of a nasal spray or lozenge. In addition to being highly addictive, fentanyl pain patches have been associated with the following health problems:
- Hallucinations
- Spitting blood
- Convulsions
- Decreased heart rate
This potent painkiller, which is 100 times stronger than morphine, has also been linked to drug overdoses and health problems caused by defective fentanyl pain patches, in which crystals in the patch accumulate in one spot and later deliver a potentially-dangerous amount of the drug at one time into a patient's body.
If you or a loved one has experienced serious health problems due to taking fentanyl, injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone and Salomone & Morelli want to meet with you. We can explain all the legal options available to you and help you decide the best course of action. We can also work with you if you decide to file a fentanyl lawsuit.