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.” Doctors typically prescribe these medications to cure or alleviate an illness or its symptoms. But sometimes, people get injured when doctors prescribe defective drugs.

Defective Drugs and Recalls

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. Pharmaceutical companies carried out these recalls to shield the public from a defective or fatally harmful product. However, the law does not require pharmacy companies to recall a defective product. Rather, product recalls are voluntary actions companies take 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 safe and effective products. If that trust is broken, it can place patients in 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 they need when a dangerous drug has harmed them. Contact us at (212) 779-0057 to arrange an initial consultation to discuss your case.