J&J allegedly knew of the risks of ovarian cancer linked to talcum powder for decades
There are approximately 1,000 lawsuits against J&J, but there’s no clear indication of whether Walgreens are included in the lawsuits as a co-defendant.
According to the claimant, Andrea Harris, Walgreens was more than a seller of the talcum powder and actively marketed the powder, tailoring it to their shoppers. Harris noted that it “maintains a joint office with J&J in Buffalo Grove, where it develops business plans for distributing and marketing J&J items, including talcum products, specifically to Walgreens’ shoppers.”
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The U.S. NHTSA clears Tesla of responsibility behind fatal crash; but does not protect the company from future lawsuits
Last year, former Navy SEAL and Tesla Model S enthusiast, Joshua Brown, died whilst driving a Tesla vehicle on auto-pilot mode.
Perhaps assuming that the “self-driving” vehicle would live up to its name, Brown did not swerve or apply his brakes during the 7 seconds leading up to his collision into the back of a truck. Due to the speed the vehicle was travelling at, Brown tragically died on impact.
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Studies shows that companies wait too long to recall medical devices
How long is too long?
It seems that medical device companies do not prioritise the safety of their products above profits and reputation, as a study conducted by the University of Minnesota revealed that these companies tend to delay in recalling defective products.
When problems are not reported to relevant authorities – like the MHRA here in the UK – healthcare professionals and the public may be unaware of the complaints, and thus may continue to use defective products that may carry a significant risk of harm.
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Lithium-ion batteries in a medical device can cause smoke and sparks if dropped
Damaged lithium-ion batteries in a medical device have been a cause for concern for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The CARDIOSAVE hybrid intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and CARDIOSAVE rescue IABP have been reported to have damaged lithium-ion batteries that may give off smoke, a bad smell, or produce sparks.
Macquet, the manufacturer of the medical device, has warned users to avoid carrying spare batteries when transporting the IABP to reduce the risk of dropping and damaging them.
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Over 48,000 Mercedes-Benz SUVs recalled to fix dangerous airbag defect.
Several Mercedes-Benz models have been recalled due to a defect in their airbags. A failure in calibration has reportedly led to a software flaw that doesn’t always deploy airbags when needed.
Regulators investigating the matter noted:
“The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag.”
The Government has issued a medical drug alert alongside a voluntary recall of Viridal Duo Powder amidst concerns over defective cap seals compromising the sterility of the contents.
UCB Pharma Limited is voluntarily recalling their Viridial Duo Powder and Solvent for Injections after concerns that the cap seals are not strong enough. The cap seals are vulnerable to breaking and thus compromising the sterility of the contents.
Viridal Duo Powder and Solvents contain the active ingredient ‘Alprostadil’ and is used for adult males for diagnostic evaluation and treatment of erectile dysfunction. The prescription only injections for diagnostic evaluation purposes are carried out by a trained physician, who will monitor the dose need to produce an erectile response.
For the treatment of erectile dysfunction, this can be administered by a physician or by self-injection.
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A woman fighting a rare but deadly cancer linked to breast implants speaks out to warn others
Ms Stacey Boone had gone to the doctors multiple times and was turned away, dismissing her concerns as having just contracted the flu. It took an egg-sized lump on her collarbone and a 42 pound weight loss before the doctors finally gave her the correct diagnosis.
Ms Boone had stage 4 cancer.
The type of cancer she was diagnosed with is extremely rare. The breast implant is associated with anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It is a cancer in the lymphatic system which is essentially the immune system.
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CareFusion syringe pumps are incompatible with any syringe type
Following on from medical device alerts from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), CareFusion has made updates and replacements to the MDA/2016/023 Alaris syringe pumps that were at risk of having uncontrolled bolus i.e. chewed up amounts of substances from the medicine.
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Mylan EpiPen recall information
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction to certain allergens which can be found in foods, drugs, and even venom like in a wasp sting. Depending on the sufferer’s sensitivity to the allergens, anaphylactic shock can be caused by ingestion or even mere contact on skin.
Otherwise more commonly known as an allergic reaction, without the simple treatment, the consequences can be serious and even fatal. Anaphylactic shock can come on immediately, and in severe cases, symptoms can develop just as quickly. Some symptoms include swelling of the throat and face; wheezing; dizziness and fainting spells. If left untreated, individuals may have difficulty breathing to a point where they may stop doing so.
For these reasons, any life saving EpiPen recall is always a major concern.
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Class 3 recall: does the small crack in the blistering of tablet packaging impact their effectiveness?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recommended recalling instant pain relief tablets due to an issue with some batches.
Bayer plc is a pharmaceutical company who manufactured the pain relief tablets in question; Alka-Seltzer Original & Alka-Seltzer XS. Bayer noticed an issue with the blister foil and as a result, are voluntarily recalling them as a precautionary measure.
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All batches of Reflection’s dead blow mallets are to be quarantined and returned to the manufacturer due to lead beads escaping into surgical wounds.
All of the dead blow mallet hammers manufactured by Smith and Nephew have been recalled after reports of broken mallet heads were made.
The dead blow mallets are different to conventional hammers as they are made to apply more precise pressure and less damage to the surface struck. The minimal elastic rebound is usually created by leaving the hammer head hollow or filled with loose sand, steel beads, or lead beads. However, this means that, if they break or crack, the filling could spill out, and this has resulted in the recall.
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Manufacturers of vital ventilation machines issued a Medical Device Alert after reports that the emergency devices stop working due to oxide build up.
Drager has issued a ‘risk of failure’ alert to all users after multiple reports were made complaining that ventilation devices had stopped working.
This is reportedly not the first time the company has received these complaints. Dräger has now issued a second Field Safety Notice for the Oxylog 3000 and Oxylog 3000 plus ventilators.
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