Even with their benefits, almost all medications present some health risks. Although many drug manufacturers claim their products have minimal side effects, certain drugs on the market have histories that undercut and challenge the truth of these claims.
Xarelto, for instance, an anticoagulant marketed as a one-size-fits-all drug, is now the subject of lawsuits across the United States, including one recent suit filed in a Philadelphia court.
A woman is suing Bayer Corp., Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson Research and Development LLC for damages arising from several allegations, including product liability and negligence.
According to the lawsuit, the woman suffered severe internal and gastrointestinal bleeding after taking Xarelto, which was prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation. The woman was taken to a hospital in February 2013, more than a year after starting the drug. She is seeking an unspecified amount of damages and compensation that could exceed $75,000.
The lawsuit claims that the defendants marketed the drug without emphasizing its adverse side effects in order to reap large profits. The lawsuit also contends that drug packaging contained insufficient warnings about the risks of severe or fatal bleeding.
The defendants are seeking dismissal because they are in Pennsylvania and the plaintiff is in Kentucky.
Drugs are primarily designed to cure a disease or reduce a patient’s suffering. Negligent actions, however, including insufficient warnings on packages, can worsen a person’s health and even result in higher medical bills, lost wages or death.
Like the woman in this case, a victim of a defective product can sue a manufacturer for negligence. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, a victim has a better chance of collecting compensation. If the victim dies, family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit. Any compensation received can help cover financial losses and alleviate pain and suffering.
Source: The Pennsylvania Record, “Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Corp. named in products liability claim over anticoagulant drug Xarelto,” Jon Campisi, Feb. 25, 2014