Lake Charles, Louisiana, Defective Drug and Medical Devices Attorney
Defective drug and medical devices litigation is an area of products liability that holds pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers and medical device distributors liable for dangerous drugs or products that result in injury, illness or wrongful death. At Baggett, McCall, Burgess, Watson & Gaughan, we offer strategic advocacy to protect the rights of our clients and maximize compensation for losses resulting from defective drug and medical devices.
Defective drug and medical device litigation can be complex. Be careful to choose a lawyer to handle your case who has had success in all aspects of litigation, from the investigation of dangerous drugs or medical devices through assessment of damages. Contact us today for an initial consultation or case evaluation.
Complex defective drug and medical device litigation
If you use a pharmaceutical product that was approved by the FDA that was later found to be defective, you are generally preempted from filing a claim. This is a very difficult area of law, but our attorneys have had significant success in overcoming the challenges presented by legislation that protects pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. If you or someone you love has suffered because of a negligent drug company, please contact us immediately for a free consultation and case evaluation regarding a product recall or dangerous medical device.
We have experience in defective drug and medical devices litigation involving:
Vioxx: Vioxx, or valdecoxib, is a COX-2 inhibitor that was commonly prescribed to people suffering from painful arthritis symptoms and other types of acute pain before it was recalled in September of 2004. COX-2 inhibitors are a subclass of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.) COX-2 inhibitors, like Vioxx, allow the presence of COX-1 enzymes, which protect the stomach, and these drugs gained popularity by claiming to avoid the stomach discomfort and gastrointestinal complications associated with traditional NSAIDs.
The fate of Vioxx was sealed in August of 2004, with the announcement of preliminary data comparing Kaiser Permanente patients taking Celebrex and Vioxx over the course of several years. The FDA-run study found that, as compared to Celebrex, Vioxx causes three times the risk of sudden cardiac death or heart attack when taken for 18 months or longer. Merck voluntarily recalled Vioxx the following month.
Premarin: Premarin is an estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) used to manage menopause symptoms and prevent osteoporosis in menopausal women. Premarin is derived from the urine of pregnant female horses, and is given to women who suffer from vaginal dryness, hot flashes and other bothersome side effects of menopause. Wyeth has marketed the therapy for over 50 years, and Premarin is the most widely prescribed ERT on the market.
While Premarin enjoyed great popularity during the 1970s — an estimated 30 million prescriptions were written each year — studies began to link ERTs with endometrial hyperplasia, a precursor to uterine cancer. Sales dropped sharply, but Wyeth aggressively promoted Premarin as safe and helpful when used in conjunction with progestins. While this combination may lessen women’s risk of developing endometrial hyperplasia, the combination of progestins and Premarin is not without its risks.
If you or someone you love has been injured by any dangerous medical device or pharmaceutical protect, please Contact Baggett, McCall, Burgess, Watson & Gaughan in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for a free consultation or call 337-478-8888 or our toll-free number 1-800-256-1137 now to speak directly with an experienced personal injury and wrongful death lawyer.
