Category: Medical
Gosport hospital deaths could have been avoided
According to an independent report, 450 Gosport hospital deaths could have been avoided after life-shortening opioids were reportedly given to elderly patients who did not need them.
The damning report found that a GP working at the hospital, Dr Jane Barton, routinely overprescribed drugs to patients in the 1990s, and consultants who were aware of her actions did not intervene. Further, nurses and pharmacists would have known that the high levels of opioids administered would not always have been appropriate, and they too failed to stop the deaths.
After years of the families campaigning and suffering over the Gosport hospital deaths, the report has finally confirmed what they already knew.
Diabetes testing kit recall
News of a diabetes testing kit recall is said to be “urgent” amid fears of lives at risk over false readings.
The Accu-Chek Aviva and the Accu-Chek Performa are the diabetes testing kits being recalled that could lead to an overdose or an under-dose of insulin that can lead to serious health complications for users.
Advice to patients is to stop using the affected devices and return them to a pharmacy for a replacement.
J & J subsidiary companied sued for breast implants causing cancer
A J & J subsidiary companied is reportedly being sued for breast implants causing cancer. According to the legal case, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary company who has manufactured breast implants for some 5 million women has left at least one woman with breast cancer.
It’s alleged that the Claimant developed breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, which is a rare form of T-cell lymphoma. She alleges that the cause of her cancer stems from being fitted with MemoryGel Siltex breast implants that are manufactured by Mentor Worldwide LLC; a subsidiary company of J & J.
Another J & J talcum powder asbestos cancer Claimant awarded damages
Another J & J talcum powder asbestos cancer Claimant has been awarded damages in the sum of over £15m.
The case is one of many that has run to trial, and there are thousands of Claimants who have reportedly lodged claims against pharmaceutical giants, Johnson & Johnson, on the basis that they have asbestos-induced mesothelioma caused by their talc products.
So far, millions of pounds have been awarded for J & J talc claimants, although the manufacturer and their supplier – both of whom are under fire in some of the legal cases – deny that their products are harmful.
EpiPen failures not to be ignored
Recent data surrounding reported EpiPen failures should not be ignored. Data reviewed has found that, in the last few years, there has been hundreds of reports of EpiePen failures that have led to a number of hospitalisations, and potentially some deaths.
One issue reported after a failed delivery from an EpiPen was the needle sticking out of the device at an angle, preventing delivery of lifesaving adrenaline that can stop an allergic reaction from killing someone.
Given the importance of lifesaving devices, these reported EpiPen failures cannot be ignored.
Calls for UK inquiry into sodium valproate epilepsy drug
There are calls for a UK inquiry into the sodium valproate epilepsy drug that has been linked to birth defects and developmental issues in children.
It’s also understood that UK health professionals were warned about the dangers of people using sodium valproate epilepsy drugs, but little seems to have been done – especially in the past – to ensure users were informed of the risks and were able to make decisions as to the use of the drug.
There are also questions over whether the drug should be classed as safe at all, and the HSE is reportedly looking at the issue. We may see a UK inquiry into the side-effects soon.
Group Action Lawyers contacted for help after NHS Breast Cancer Screening Scandal
The Group Action Lawyers have been contacted for help after the news broke about the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Scandal. Individuals who did not receive their invitation for breast cancer screening and have since developed breast cancer, or families of patients who have passed away because the patient was not offered screening, may be entitled to take legal action.
A computer glitch has been blamed for the error that resulted in some 450,000 women aged between 68 and 71 reportedly not receiving their invitation for breast cancer screening because a computer program is said to have had the cut-off age at 70 by mistake. What’s worse is that it has taken nine years for the problem to be identified, with the glitch occurring sometime in 2009.
Pelvic mesh devices “rushed to market” without proper testing and warnings
Some pelvic mesh devices were reportedly “rushed to market” without proper testing and warnings for women, the legal team for a Claimant pursuing damages for pelvic mesh injuries claims.
According to the reports, manufacturer C.R. Bard moved pelvic mesh devices to market quickly and failed to properly test the devices and provide sufficient warnings over their use.
The Claimant alleges that the ‘Avaulta Solo Support System’ and the ‘Align Trans-Obturator Urethral Support System’ are unsafe, and inadequate warnings were provided to her. She has reportedly suffered debilitating injuries.
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Group Action Lawyers investigating NHS Breast Cancer Screening Scandal
The Group Action Lawyers are investigating the NHS Breast Cancer Screening Scandal which has broken in the news this week.
Our Group Action Lawyers say there may be legal cases to answer for as Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, confirms that 270 women may have died as a direct result of an IT glitch that lead to them NOT receiving vital and potentially life-saving letters inviting them for periodic breast cancer screening.
It’s thought that women aged between 68 and 71 are affected by the glitch that occurred in 2009 that was discovered by Public Health England in January this year.
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Xarelto side-effects when mixed with other drugs
The issue of Xarelto side-effects when mixed with other drugs is currently being considered as part of the ongoing court action for negligence claims against the manufacturers of Xarelto who allegedly failed to warn users of dangerous side-effects related to use of the drug.
The blood-thinning, anti-stroke drug Xarelto – also sold under the name Rivaroxaban – has been linked to internal bleeding, and negligence claims against the manufacturers are over whether they knew of the risks of internal bleeding associated with the product but failed to warn anyone.
Our Group Action Lawyers have taken on cases to investigate claims here in the UK.
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Resuscitation system recall issued after risk of damage to lungs found
An error with a resuscitation system has been reported to risk damage to lungs, according to information released by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Manufactured by Intersurgical, the manual resuscitation system – named as the “Bag valve mask” (BVM) – risks damage to lungs due to the potential for excess pressure being delivered by the system.
Given that the defect is with a resuscitation system, this recall is an important one as lives may be at risk as a result of it.
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Cancer drug recall confirmed by UK regulators
A cancer drug recall has been initiated due to reports of excessive levels of an active ingredient used in the drug.
Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca UK has initiated the recall, primarily for batch NG327, because the “level of olaparib polymorphic form L exceeds the registered specification limit”.
As well as the batch being recalled above, there are other batches that are a part of the recall as well, which is all said to be a part of a precautionary measure.
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