Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
Johnson & Johnson recently made the decision to make some changes in the way it labels Tylenol, specifically in regards to adding additional warnings of the potential dangers the drug may pose.
The warning will make it explicitly clear that the over-the-counter drug contains acetaminophen, a pain-relieving ingredient that’s the nation’s leading cause of sudden liver failure.
These preventative measures are believed to be related to the fact that the company is reportedly currently facing more than 85 personal injury lawsuits in federal court blaming Tylenol for various liver injuries and deaths.
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, overdoses from acetaminophen in the U.S. send 55,000 to 80,000 people to the emergency room and kill at least 500 each year. In many cases, overdoses occur when individuals combine several different medications containing the drug, even though the medications often warn against this type of practice.
Acetaminophen overdoses occur when the liver is overwhelmed by too much of the drug, resulting in the production of a toxic byproduct that kills liver cells. Liver failure occurs when most cells are no longer able to function. At that point, a patient then generally has 24 to 48 hours to live without a transplant.
The types of warnings present on these types of over the counter medications are meant to warn patients of the risks associated with taking these drugs. The reason for doing that, aside from the manufacturer wanting the patient to understand the nature of the medicine, is that one of the legal claims for which a drug manufacturer can potentially be held liable for is a products liability claim. While there are several different theories under which products liability cases can be brought, the most relevant in a case like this one would be the allegation that the drugmaker failed to warn the individual of the nature of the risks associated with the product. This is probably a cornerstone argument in the 85 reported lawsuits that the company is currently facing. If successful, failure to warn cases can lead to financial compensation for the victims of the harm, in order to reimburse them for medical treatment expenses, pain and suffering, and any other related harms they may have suffered as a result of their injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured or died as a result of a medication or pharmacy dispensing error, contact the experienced Maryland personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. Our lawyers have extensive experience in advocating on behalf of individuals who have been harmed by medication errors, whether they were improperly prescribed, dispensed, or administered. Contact us today by calling us at (800) 654-1949 or through our website, in order to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Near $1 Million Award in Unauthorized Palliative Care Death, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, published September 6, 2013
Defective Blood Glucose Monitor Test Strips Pose Major Potential Risk to Diabetics, Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog, published August 29, 2013