An analysis of a federal hip implant complaint database by the New York Times indicates that there has been a surge in the number of complaints related to hip implant devices like DePuy’s ASR devices and Zimmer’s Durom cup.
 
The analysis also shows an increase in the number of metal-on-metal hip implant complaints. According to the New York Times analysis, the agency has received about 5,000 complaints related to metal-on-metal implants manufactured by DePuy since January this year alone. The analysis found a total of 7,500 complaints regarding these devices. The analysis also found about 1,500 complaints regarding the Durom cup between 2007 and June 2011.

However, it is difficult to say exactly how many complaints involve all-metal implants, because complaint reports were not filed a standardized manner.
The New York Times analysis comes even as hip implant manufacturers like DePuy, Zimmer and Wright Medical lay the groundwork for studies on the safety of these devices. The Food and Drug Administration ordered these companies to study the safety of hip implants, after a wave of complaints and recalls of defective hip implants. The companies have recently been in touch with health providers like Kaiser Permanente and hospitals that have their own patient registries, to recruit patients for the studies. These companies have already presented their proposed plans for the studies to the Food and Drug Administration, which will decide on the effectiveness of these proposed studies by November.
 
California hip implant recall lawyers would like the studies to recommend systems to measure the amount of metallic ions from these devices that are leaked into the bloodstream, and ways to measure the extent of bone loss from the use of these implants.

The Food and Drug Administration is right to worry about all-metal hip implant devices. The agency believes that these devices are the biggest medical implant-related issue the Food and Drug Administration and California product liability lawyers have faced since Medtronic's cardiac implant device problems a few years ago.

The FDA issued a warning on July 13, 2011 about the frequent complications associated with transvaginal mesh products in their treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The FDA initially warned against these devices in 2008 but because of the high rate of complications, over 2,000 reported, it recently issued an additional warning. The FDA has also reported that the transvaginal mesh is proven to be no more successful than other vaginal surgeries yet seem to cause far more complications about which manufacturers failed to warn both doctors and patients. These mesh devices have been repeatedly failing, some having to be removed or trimmed due to malfunctions in design and materials used. Numerous women suffering complications have been pursuing legal action in hopes of recovering compensation for damages. By the end of July, over 100 lawsuits had been filed against Bard Avaulta and over 400 others against Johnson & Johnson, two of the main manufacturers of these devices.

Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that occurs in women when the normal support of the vagina decreases causing the cervix, rectum, bladder, or urethra to drop or sag. The mesh device is used to hold these parts in place and prevent them from dropping. However, hundreds of women have experienced complications with these devices shortly after implantation causing serious discomfort and often requiring removal of the device.

The defective medical device attorneys at Arias, Ozzello & Gignac, LLP are currently investigating claims against the manufacturers of the transvaginal mesh devices. If you or someone you know has suffered complications from these devices, contact our attorneys today. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

The anti-acne medication, Accutane, has been linked to the development of a gastrointestinal condition that results in painful and often debilitating symptoms. However, California Accutane injury lawyers have also found that Accutane use can result in a number of other lesser-known side effects.

For instance, several studies have indicated that people who use Accutane may suffer psychiatric side effects. These effects can include suicidal tendencies and suicidal fantasies. In fact, Roche, the maker of Accutane, has faced lawsuits from families of people who committed suicide after Accutane use.

The link between Accutane and psychiatric disorders is so strong that many doctors do not prescribe Accutane to persons who suffer from depression. Besides, Accutane has also been linked to a number of other conditions, including aggression and mood swings.

Inflammatory bowel disease is one of the most well-known and most serious side effects of Accutane use. There are two types of inflammatory bowel disease - ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The effects of ulcerative colitis are limited to the colon, while Crohn's disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. The general symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease include abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and loss of appetite. The loss of appetite and diarrhea can lead to malnutrition and the development of nutritional disorders like anemia.

People who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease can quickly develop complications, like bleeding from the ulcers, and bowel perforation. People who suffer from ulcerative colitis are also at a higher risk of developing cancer than the general population.

Not all the side effects of Accutane are debilitating. There are a number of minor side effects that may not be dangerous, but do affect the person's quality of life. These include headaches, constipation, and joint pain.

The number of Accutane lawsuits being filed in the state of New Jersey continues to grow with each passing day. Totals at the end of July suggest that the number of cases filed is up nearly 40% since April of 2011 alone. This is not only a testament to how widespread the use of the once-popular acne medication was, but also to how significant and lasting its side effects remain today.

Accutane, made by Hoffman-LaRoche, was used for years to treat cases of severe acne.  The drug became very popular until it was linked to causing Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC).  Now thousands of plaintiffs are seeking compensation for their medical bills and treatment of such painful and life-altering diseases.  If you or someone you know has taken Accutane and has experienced such side effects, contact seasoned defective drug attorneys immediately for a free consultation.

Investigation has found that non-M&T Bank customers who withdraw cash from M&T Bank ATM machines may be assessed fees by M&T, despite M&T Bank ATM machines’ representations that cash withdrawals are “surcharge free.” According to M&T Bank’s website, M&T ATM machines are located at Sheetz convenience stores, NOCO, Rutter’s, many Wawa stores throughout Maryland, Thurgood Marshal BWI Airport, several General Growth Malls in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, and participating HESS locations in Pennsylvania. If you or someone you know has withdrawn cash from an M&T ATM machine and was assessed a fee from M&T Bank, please contact us to discuss your legal options.

In August 2011, the FDA issued an additional warning against the anti-fungal medication, Diflucan. Diflucan has been linked to causing birth defects in children if their mothers took Diflucan while pregnant. The FDA has also changed Diflucan from a Class C drug to a Class D drug, providing an additional warning against Diflucan for pregnant women. Currently, doctors are encouraged to warn women against the dangers of ingesting this drug if pregnant and the serious risks it poses to unborn children.    

Diflucan is an anti-fungal drug produced by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. It is used to combat yeast infections, meningitis, and other fungal infections. But when taken during pregnancy, it can pose serious risk to unborn children. Women who have taken high doses of Diflucan during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, have reported serious birth defects in their newborns. Such defects include congenital heart disease, cleft palate, cleft lip, abnormal face or skull formations, and various other abnormalities.  

Numerous pharmaceutical drug attorneys are investigating the serious claims against Diflucan. If you or anyone you know has experienced similar problems while on Diflucan, contact the law offices of Arias, Ozzello & Gignac today for a free consultation.

In May 2011, Pfizer executives set aside $772 million for lawsuits regarding the menopause medication Prempro, a drug manufactured by Wyeth and Pfizer. Prempro has been linked to causing breast cancer in women after long-term use. Since as early as 2002, nearly 4,000 women who have contracted breast cancer after taking Prempro have filed suit against Pfizer for failure to warn of side effects and aggressive promotion of Prempro. Pfizer failed to adequately test and research Prempro to determine its adverse side effects from long-term use, resulting in a large number of women contracting breast cancer.

The drug manufacturer has recently agreed to pay $330 million to resolve 2,200 cases in which women risked higher rates of developing breast cancer.   Prempro was approved as a hormone therapy drug by the FDA in 1995. It combines progestin and estrogen to treat the many symptoms of menopause and is used by 15-20% of post-menopausal women in the United States. Its link to breast cancer has become an increasing problem and numerous lawsuits have been filed against this pharmaceutical giant.  

Women all over the country who experienced these complications are seeking compensation for medical bills, damages, suffering, and other related issues. If you or someone you know has suffered from breast cancer as a result of taking Prempro, contact a Prempro drug litigation attorney to discuss your legal options.

In November 2010, the FDA recalled the pain medications Darvon and Darvocet, both of which contain propoxyphene, due to a study linking them to heart problems and addictive qualities. Doctors have been urging the FDA to take these medications off the market for years and the FDA finally caved in to the pressure because of the substantial evidence of heart problems related to propoxyphene. These complications affect a large amount of people seeing as just last year, over 10 million people in the United States took either Darvon or Darvocet. The FDA recall has paved the way for people who have suffered these complications to file suit against the pharmaceutical giant that manufactures these drugs.

Darvon and Darvocet are medications manufactured by Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals and were approved by the FDA more than 50 years ago. They are used as pain-relievers but have several adverse side effects. Not only are they reported to cause heart problems and abnormalities, but now studies are indicating that their addictive qualities may also cause drug-related deaths or suicide. If you or someone you know has experienced any of these complications from taking Darvon or Darvocet, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain, and suffering. Contact a drug litigation attorney today to discuss your legal options.

Investigation has found that LG’s Home Theater System (model number LHB 975) may contain a defect in the wireless subwoofer and/or rear speakers. Many consumers have complained that their Home Theater Systems continued to have the same issues, even after sending them to LG for repair. If you or someone you know has purchased the LG LHB 975 Home Theater System and experienced similar issues, please contact us to discuss your legal options.

Investigation has found that many consumers who purchased ReplayTV with a lifetime guarantee of service for the life of the equipment have had the lifetime guarantees cancelled. If you or someone you know has purchased a ReplayTV unit with a lifetime guarantee of service, but later had it cancelled, please contact us to discuss your legal options.