Atlanta Injury Lawyers Blog

Published on: March 2, 2012

The Ill Effects of Bone-Building Medications

The New York Times recently reported that a FDA committee has advised improving bone-building drug labels. The brands that will be affected are Actonel, Atelvia, Boniva, and Fosamax. Tens of thousands of women in Atlanta take such medications.

The advisory committee’s recommendation follows studies that suggest there is no noteworthy benefit of continuing such therapy past five years. Though the benefits of taking bone-building drugs for three to five years have been proven, such drugs have not been proven for long-term use.

The advisory committee assembled due to concerns that many women have suffered atypical thigh fractures or jaw disease after taking the medications long-term. However, none of the members of the committee advised imposing strict limits on long-term use. Neither did the committee recommend a black box warning even with petitions from former patients present.

Published on: February 29, 2012

Consumer Fraud Suit Filed Against JPMorgan Chase

by Robert J. Fleming

A consumer fraud class-action lawsuit has been filed in US District Court. The suit claims that JPMorgan Chase uses false documents to misrepresent itself as having standing in bankruptcy cases. Rather than pay the fees associated with proving the succession of ownership, Chase just creates its own documents. Some of these alleged “false document” filings may have directly effected Atlanta homeowners.

Initially, the case began with one client but turned into a class action suit when a pattern was seen in cases where chase was involved. Oddly enough, Chase is the rightful owner of the loan, but the bank just doesn’t want to spend the money and time needed to confirm it.

Most of the time Chase has legal standing in bankruptcy court. However, the bank doesn’t spend the money to prove their authority to act. Thus not allowing individuals their chance in court, by using counterfeit affidavits, endorsements, deeds, and other certificates to prove its rights as a lender in numerous bankruptcy cases.

Published on: February 29, 2012

FDA Committee Tied to Bayer

by Robert J. Fleming

An advisory board for The US Food and Drug Administration recently voted that the advantage of using four popular Bayer drugs make up for the risks associated with their adverse side effects. But the FDA did not make known the fact that three of the advisors were associated with Bayer.

The three doctors were part of a safety committee that evaluated the safety of Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz, and Safyal. And they served as consultants, researchers, and speakers for Bayer. Bayer’s studies showed no real danger; whereas, other research and a commissioned study by the FDA found that there is. Advisory committees by the FDA are supposed to make independent decisions concerning medical matters.

The FDA states that members of their advisory committees have to declare all financial dealings they may have with companies in order to guarantee “transparency”. But advisory members are only obligated to make known possible conflicts of interest to the FDA. Therefore, such information is seldom freely available.

Published on: February 29, 2012

Crestor Might be Linked to Cardiomyopathy

by Robert J. Fleming

After a recent appearence at the American College of Cardiology convention in Atlanta, some studies are now suggesting that Crestor may be linked to cardiomyopathy, which is a serious condition that has an effect on the muscle of the heart. Crestor is a statin, and statins reduce coenzyme levels, which causes an increased risk for heart failure. Therefore, anyone who takes statins is at risk of cardiomyopathy.

Numerous studies connect statin use to low levels of coenzyme Q10. One such study examined the level of coenzyme Q10 in people taking lovastatin (Mevacor). The researchers concluded that lovastatin does decrease tissue levels of CoQ10, which can reduce heart functioning. Patients with low tissue levels of CoQ10 with moderate or weak heart functioning who are treated with lovastatin are at an increased risk.

Coenzyme is a protective enzyme that protects the heart from failing. Since statins seemingly reduce levels of coenzyme Q10, patients need to supplement coenzyme Q10 to reduce their risk of experiencing heart failure. Another study found that cardiomyopathy caused by statins is more prevalent than documented and that discontinuation and supplemental CoQ10 can reverse such side effects.

Published on: February 29, 2012

Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuits

by Robert J. Fleming

Lawsuits have been filed in the Atlanta area and elsewhere against several home warranty companies claiming that the companies unlawfully reject claims. Such companies offer extended warranties with maintenance agreements to keep household appliances and other mechanical devices working.

Retailers, such as Best Buy, Home Depot, Sears, and Wal-Mart offer customers the option of purchasing an extended warranty to insure coverage on their purchases after the usual one-year manufacturers warranty expires. However, the retailer doesn’t handle the extended warranty. The retailer only offers it at the time that the product is bought. Third party administrators (TPA) provide the services that are outlined in the extended warranty.

Home warranty or maintenance agreements usually cover such items as central air conditioners, dishwashers, garbage disposals, heating systems, ovens, refrigerators, and washers and dryers. However, additional coverage can be bought on pools, spas, and other mechanical devices.

The maintenance agreements cover damages caused by normal wear and tear. They do not cover pre–existing problems, misuse, or owner neglect. They simply extend beyond the manufacturers warranty. They do not overlap that warranty. Such warranties are provided by 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, American Home Shield, Cross Century Home Services, Fidelity National Home Warranty, and Old Republic Home Protection.
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Published on: February 29, 2012

Safyral Needs to Update Labels

by Robert J. Fleming

Safyral is a birth control medication that is used by a large number of women in Atlanta. It contains drodpirenone and a supplement designed to increase levels of folate in women. But Safyral, like other birth control medications that contain drodpirenone, is being asked by the FDA to bring its label up to date by including warnings.

In December of 2011, an advisory panel of the FDA considered the safety and value of contraceptives that contain drospirenone. Among the contraceptives that the panel considered were Yasmin, Yaz, Beyaz, and Safyral. This inquiry was the result of concern over the increased risk of blood clotting women who use drospirenone are experiencing.

The advisory panel voted 15 to 11 that the benefits of birth control medications that contain drospirenone, like Safyral, offset the risks linked with its use. However, critics argue that there are older forms of birth control that are safer and just as effective as the newer ones that contain drospirenone.

Published on: February 29, 2012

Electronic Prescription Systems Reduce Errors, Increase Adherence to Medication Program

by Robert J. Fleming

When doctors use electronic prescription systems to deliver prescriptions, patients are not only more likely to follow through with the medication course, but also less likely to suffer injuries from filling errors. In fact, new research indicates that the use of electronic prescriptions improves patient adherence to medication programs, thereby contributing to better patient outcomes, and reducing health-care costs by lowering the number of prescription errors.

The researchers went through more than 40 million prescriptions. They found that patient adherence to medication programs is much higher when doctors use electronic prescription tools to hand out prescriptions. The adherence rate was about 10% higher when doctors used electronic prescription systems.

There is a simple enough reason for this. Patients, who get electronic prescriptions are less likely to lose their prescription, or abandon the prescription. Additionally, patients are much more likely to stick to a medication program, when medications are cost-effective. Electronic prescription systems allow a doctor to check the prices of medications before prescribing them. Additionally, electronic prescription systems give a doctor access to other important data like the patient’s insurance status and medication history. This helps the physician make cost-effective prescription decisions for the patient.
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Published on: February 29, 2012

Increase in Atlanta ER Visits for Dental Problems

by Robert J. Fleming

Hospital emergency rooms and Atlanta dental malpractice lawyers across the country are reporting an increase in the number of patients coming in for emergency dental treatment. According to new research, the number of emergency room visits across the country increased approximately 16% between 2006 and 2009.

The data comes from a report titled “A Costly Dental Destination” by the Pew Center on the States. According to the report, the country is in the middle of a major dental crisis, with more than 130 million Americans currently without any form of dental insurance. The report is meant to spotlight the lack of access to dental care for many people around the country.

According to the report, many patients are not able to access dental treatment, and therefore, neglect dental care. These patients are much more likely to go to a hospital emergency with dental problems that could have been avoided if they had made regular visits to the dentist.
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Published on: February 29, 2012

Meridia Fiasco Shows Need for Watchful Eye Over the FDA

by Robert J. Fleming

Meridia (sibutramine) is a prescribed drug that patients in Atlanta take orally to manage obesity during the losing and maintaining of weight. It is the first orally taken serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It influences the appetite control center in the brain to lessen food consumption by raising satiety Sibutramine that is thought to support weight loss.

Abbot Laboratories, the manufacturer of Meridian, conducted a voluntary recall in October of 2010 after the FDA called for the removal from the market. Meridia, a diet drug, was found to cause serious cardiac side effects and could even cause death. 12 months after the FDA voted that the risks associated with the taking of Meridia outweighed its benefits, the drug was approved nonetheless.

Meridia’s side effects include, anorexia, constipation, dry mouth, headaches, heart disease, insomnia, increased blood pressure, increased heart rates, mental impairment, seizures, strokes, and increased sweating. Meridia is also linked to serious and deadly side effects such as pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Other side effects include heart valve disease or cardiac valve dysfunction.
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Published on: February 29, 2012

Taco Bell Sued Over Salmonella Poisoning

by Robert J. Fleming

As a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta and father of two young girls, this kind of news always catches my attention. A lawsuit has been filed against Taco Bell over last year’s salmonella poisoning outbreak that affected 68 people in 10 states. The lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a 22-year-old woman in Oklahoma who claims she was infected with Salmonella poisoning after she ate at Taco Bell. She alleges that she was ill for two weeks and is seeking $75,000.

Taco Bell claims that investigators found that not all who ate at Taco Bell had gotten sick. Therefore, Taco Bell suggests that the problem probably originated with their supplier before being delivered to Taco Bell restaurants. Salmonella illnesses were reported in Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas from October through January of last year.

Taco Bell is no stranger to outbreaks of food borne illness. In 2000, green onions were the cause of a hepatitis outbreak. In 2006, tainted lettuce caused an E. coli outbreak that sickened 71 customers in five states. And in 20010, Taco Bell was linked to another Salmonella outbreak that sickened 155 people.
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