Category: Medical
MHRA publishes a class 2 Medicines recall for Sodium Cromoglicate eye drops
The Medicines and Health products Regulation Agency (MHRA) published a medical drug alert on the 18th May 2017 issuing a precautionary recall for bottles of eye drops amidst concerns that the solution can solidify in its container.
Sodium Cromoglicate solution eye drops are typically used to treat red, watery and itchy eyes. Common users are allergy suffers who react adversely to animal hairs, dust or pollen. Marketed as anti-inflammatory, it’s a remedy to alleviate itching and prevent damage to the eyes and delicate surrounding skin by rubbing. The eye drops are also used by contact lens wearers too.
Continue Reading…
Issues with battery life of the Accu-Chek Insight insulin pumps
All Accu-Chek Insight insulin pumps have received new instructions for better device management due to previous complaints about the battery lifetime and the device having unexpected shutdowns.
The first warning for the medical device was issued on the 4th August 2015 where Roche Diabetes Care, the medical manufacturers of the insulin pump, issued advice about the correct battery specifications and appropriate pump settings.
Continue Reading…
BD Plastipak 100ml catheter tip syringes with Luer slip adapters have been recalled after fears of leakage
The government’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a medical device alert and announced the recall for reportedly defective plastic syringes.
Manufactured by Becton Dickinson, the catheter tip syringe with Luer slip adapters have reportedly failed routine stability tests. Under testing, the syringes can leak through the syringe stopper, rendering administration of medicine inaccurate and unsafe.
Continue Reading…
Teleflex nasal drug atomiser device recalled
Following a medical device alert back on the 21st April this year, LMA MAD Nasal has recalled their intranasal mucosal atomisation devices after complaints that the device failed to deliver medication properly.
The device provides an alternative administration of medication that otherwise may require a needle. Marketed as “safe, painless and rapidly effective treatment”, many may prefer the nasal atomiser over a sharp needle in the arm.
However, problems have arisen where the medication may not actually be delivered properly or at all, which can of course be incredibly dangerous for users relying on vital medication for their health.
Continue Reading…
Dangerous anti-malaria drug – Lariam – may be giving British troops severe depression
British soldiers deployed abroad in certain tropical countries may be prescribed drugs to prevent contracting malaria. For many years, troops were prescribed Lariam, but for over a decade there have been a whole string of complaints that it causes significant psychological problems.
Various countries all over the world stopped prescribing or selling the drug amidst fears that Lariam causes depression and violent behavioural changes, and our lawyers are investigating the issues surrounding use of the drug.
Continue Reading…
GlaxoSmithKline to recall almost 600,000 asthma inhalers
Pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are recalling hundreds of thousands of reportedly defective asthma inhalers.
The life-saving medical devices help asthma sufferers breathe, especially when suffering from asthma attacks, but a reported defect in the Ventolin inhalers has been found to provide insufficient doses.
The drug company, based in the U.K., supplies asthma inhalers to hospitals, pharmacies, retailers and wholesalers around the world, with defective units being found in the U.S.
Continue Reading…
As medical companies join forces to advance medical technology, the rise in recalls and risks of hacking remain in our minds
Over the past few years, we have seen the digital world explode and incorporate in to everything we do. We have apps and gadgets for all sorts of things!
The medical industry has grasped this fairly new development to improve medical equipment and devices too. With ever advancing technology in treating patients, different medical companies are joining forces to introduce upgraded robotics, better visualisation, and improved bioelectronics.
However, the advancement of creations and collaborations have also seen a similar rise in medical device failures and the ever-present risk of hacking…
Continue Reading…
Washington Supreme Court ruled that medical device makers have a duty to warn hospitals as well as doctors and physicians of product risks.
The Washington Supreme Court in the U.S recently gave a 6 – 1 judgement on whether or not medical device manufacturers have a responsibility to warn hospitals as well as doctors and operators of the risks their products come with.
In this recent Supreme Court decision, it was held that manufacturers must also warn hospitals as the purchaser of the medical devices (and thus the consumer), as well as doctors. The lawsuit was made against Intuitive Surgical Inc. after a man died from a fatal operation involving the manufacturer’s robotic medical device. The Da Vinci system is used for minimally invasive operations whereby a doctor operates on the patient through a robotic arm controlled by an electric remote.
Continue Reading…
Court case over De Puy metal hip prosthesis may alter product liability laws in the U.K
Following on from the recall issued by De Puy Orthapaedics on their hip implants in 2012, a recent decision has been made at the Court of Appeal over the defective hip replacement devices, where the Court has decided that a safety expectation test must be passed too.
Whilst the claimant Wilkes had suffered from an implant fracture 3-years after the hip replacement implant, the Court looked towards surrounding circumstances like ‘risk benefits’ and how it could have been avoided.
Continue Reading…
Medical device maker Medtronic has recalled their adjustable pressure valves across the world
Medtronic has issued a worldwide recall over their unused StrataMR valve devices after numerous complaints have been raised.
In one of the complaints, one patient death is suspected to be related to the device. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued an urgent Field Safety Notice to distribute news of the recall in the U.K.
Continue Reading…
Lawyers seeking product liability claims against Zimmer for problems associated with their knee replacement implants
Zimmer NexGen knee implants are supposed to provide patients with new artificial knees to last at least 15-20 years. However, there have been numerous reports that the implants have been loosening; causing pain, discomfort and other complications.
With the level of complaints, the implants are believed to be defective and a recall has been issued by the U.S. regulators. However, this isn’t a broken toy that you can just bring to a supermarket for a refund; individuals who have had the knee replacement surgery may be at risk of the implant moving or loosening, and if this occurs, the individual may need knee revision surgery.
Continue Reading…
Health and safety regulators are warning consumers of fake cancer treatments being sold online
Regulators have found 65 fake health products circulating the web that are falsely advertised as cancer treatments.
“Miraculously kills cancer cell in tumours,” “more effective than chemotherapy” – These kinds of potentially fraudulent and unsubstantiated claims are being used to advertise alternative cancer remedies, and the concern is that the vulnerable are being preyed upon.
Continue Reading…