Defective Drugs and Side Effects

For many Americans, prescription drugs are just a normal part of a daily routine. According to a report from Medscape, “forty-four percent of all Americans take at least one prescription medication, and seventeen percent take three or more medications.” These medications are typically prescribed by doctors with the intention of curing or alleviating an illness or its symptoms.

Although patients are reasonable in believing their medications are safe for consumption, this belief may not always be founded. Much like any other mass-manufactured product, there is a small possibility that medications may be defective. According to data from the Food and Drug Administration, there have been 83 reports of company drug recalls in 2019. These recalls were carried out by pharmaceutical companies to shield the public from a defective — or even fatally harmful product.

However, pharmacy companies are not required by law to recall a defective product. Rather, product recalls are a voluntary action taken by companies at any time they choose, should they see fit. This means that a potentially dangerous batch of products could remain on the market for an extended period of time before being recalled. When it comes to health and human life, this factor can be devastating. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), adverse drug effects could have been responsible for between two and four million “serious, disabling, or fatal” injuries in 2011 — including 128,000 patient deaths.

Contact a New York Product Liability Attorney

If you believe that you or someone you know may have become seriously ill due to a defective drug, you may be entitled to receive financial compensation. Patients trust drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies to deliver a product that is both safe and effective. If that trust is broken, it can place patients within very difficult, sometimes life-threatening situations.

At Hach & Rose, LLP, our team of New York product liability attorneys is dedicated to helping our clients seek the financial compensation that they need when they have been harmed by a dangerous drug.  Contact us at (212) 779-0057 to arrange for an initial consultation in which to discuss your case.