Pennsylvania residents who have been harmed by the drug GranuFlo may have the ability to join a class action lawsuit against the medical supplier Fresenius Medical Care if a court certifies the action. A woman whose husband died due to heart failure shortly after being treated with GranuFlo filed a complaint in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in June. The complaint includes the request that it be made class action, which would allow individuals who suffered heart problems and their beneficiaries to join the suit.
If the court certifies the action, it is expected that upwards of thousands of Pennsylvania residents will join the action that alleges GranFlo is a dangerous product and that the company did not warn of serious risks and side effects. According to court documents, the same month that the alleged victim of GranuFlo died, Fresenius Medical Care distributed an internal memo warning about risks associated with the product. The memo stated that risks to patients who were given GranuFlo included cardiopulmonary arrest, heart attacks and sudden death.
Further information from the complaint states that GranuFlo is dangerous because it raises the level of bicarbonate in the blood during dialysis, which substantially increases the risk to the heart. It is stated that because Fresenius Medical Care failed to notify doctors of this issue, medical professionals were not aware of the need to reduce the amount of bicarbonate prescribed to patients.
People with medical issues may depend on certain medications to help improve their condition. Knowledge of side effects could be vital for these individuals. If someone or a family member has been harmed by a dangerous medical product, a lawyer could help them understand their options for legal recourse.
Source: Injury Lawyer News, “Fresenius Hit with GranuFlo Class Action Lawsuit“, Ava Lawson, June 26, 2013