When you get a prescription for a medication from your doctor, you trust that it will be safe for you to take and that it will treat your condition with minimal side effects. However, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicine can have some substantial, sometimes harmful side effects.
If you have been injured because of a dangerous medication, you may have a claim for compensation from the manufacturer. Additionally, you may be unable to recover against a doctor who prescribes an approved medication, but you could have a case for off-label uses.
A Media dangerous drugs lawyer could help you understand your options. Contact the Dan Doyle Law Group today to discuss your situation with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.
Understanding and defining what a dangerous drug is can be tricky because some pharmaceuticals have known hazards, but their benefits outweigh their risks. Many chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer fall under this umbrella. Even though the side effects are life-impacting and may even be permanent, those drugs often offer patients the best chances of going into remission or saving their lives.
Hazardous drugs include medications that cause emotional or physical injuries to people that are disproportionate to their benefits. This harm can be the result of a defect in the medication, inadequate testing before approval, drug interactions, or off-label use.
When the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines that a medication is dangerous, it has a few options. For one, they can recall the drug, determining that it is unsafe to use for its intended purpose. For instance, the FDA recalled the weight loss combination drug Fen-Phen because it was too hazardous to use.
The FDA can take fewer steps to protect the public from dangerous drugs, such as putting black box warnings on medications. When a drug has this label, prescribers must use caution and inform patients about potential side effects. However, patients are often unaware of the possibly severe complications of black-label medications. A dangerous drugs lawyer could help their client in Media file a claim after sustaining an injury from these types of medications.
Many patients lack the technical knowledge to understand medical research, which would be necessary to evaluate their individual risks. Instead, they rely on their doctors to choose practical and safe medications for them. Some of the drugs that were revealed to be unsafe for many patients include the following:
People who believe they have suffered medication-related injuries from one of the dangerous drugs listed above or any other should contact a seasoned lawyer in Media. They could help to evaluate the individual’s situation and determine whether they have a claim for compensation.
Pharmaceuticals are big business, and because of that, manufacturers often prioritize profits over people. This can manifest as rushing medications through the FDA approval process or ignoring reports of side effects. These entities should be held responsible if their actions lead to injuries.
If you have suffered physical or emotional harm because of a medication, get in touch with a Media dangerous drugs lawyer today. Our team could evaluate your claim and advise you of your potential remedies.
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