The following is a guest blog from Dallas-based Rasansky Law Firm:
We tend to take our good health for granted. When we suddenly find ourselves in not such great health we usually turn to the medical community to help us get back to wellness. Most of us put our trust on the advice of doctors and other medical professionals about what medication or procedure will cure our particular ailment. Sometimes we see a commercial on television for a product that claims to be the best for fixing the problem. Other times we are in an emergency situation and unable to choose for ourselves the medical treatment we will receive. These drugs and devices are intended to help, but what happens when they turn out to be harmful instead? Like anything else that consumers have available to them, there is product liability involved here too.
According to NaturalNews.com, approximately 106,000 Americans die each year from unsafe drugs and the number may actually be double that amount due to so many cases that are never reported. This is a shocking statistic considering how few of these cases we actually hear about. Prescription drugs have taken on a somewhat ‘trendy’ appearance in recent years, with TV and magazine advertisements touting their amazing benefits; some do not even tell you what they are for. We have gotten used to being able to take a pill to fix our complaint. It is quick and easy but can be dangerous too. We trust that the drugs on the market have been thoroughly tested and are safe to use. Unfortunately, the truth is that some unsafe drugs do make it onto the market and into the hands of patients eager to feel better.
Also alarming is the incidence of faulty medical equipment that makes its way into hospitals and patients’ homes. Often, the people who need the help of this equipment are already in very poor health and really cannot afford a slip-up in medical care. Some machines with a history of being faulty are heart defibrillators, anesthetic machines, IV pumps, blood pressure equipment, X-ray machines and cancer diagnostic equipment. The list is a who’s who of life saving equipment, but only if it is functioning properly. This past year Talk Radio News Service told the story of several people affected by faulty equipment. It is not only hospital equipment that can be a threat though. Unsafe medical devices can and have been used on and inside of patients. Recently MSNBC reported a story of a man who had a medical clip used in his body during surgery to donate a kidney to his wife. The clip dislodged and killed the 29-year-old man. The companies that manufacture and sell medical equipment have a responsibility to ensure its safety before sending it out.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by faulty medical equipment, devices, or unsafe drugs you should speak with an attorney. We have extensive knowledge with product liability issues and can advise you of your options. Please take a moment to fill out our form for a free assessment of your case.