drug

Nation’s Largest Drug Distributor to Pay $150M in Settlement

Drug distributor McKesson Corporation will pay a $150 million fine.

Regulators have alleged that McKesson Corporation, a drug distributor, failed to report suspicious orders of painkillers that have been linked to the opioid addiction epidemic.drug

The company has agreed to pay a $150 million fine after they allegedly failed to detect and report suspicious orders of prescription pain pills, according to federal prosecutors. This has arguably led to the growing heroin crisis.

For example, more than 1.6 million orders for controlled substances were filled by McKesson in Colorado between June 2008 through May 2013. However,  just 16 of them from a single customer as suspicious, the Justice Department said.

In a statement from the White House last summer, federal fears related to pain killer and opioid addictions were made clear:

“President [Obama] has made [it] clear that addressing this epidemic is a priority for his Administration.  While Federal agencies have been using their authority to take every available action they can, Congress needs to take action on what is most urgently needed now – additional funding to make lifesaving treatment available to everyone who seeks it. The President has called for $1.1 billion in new funding to help Americans who want treatment get it wherever they live.”

Those addicted to opioid painkillers are most likely to form a heroin addiction according to the Centers for Disease and prevention.

McKesson, the nation’s largest drug distributor,  was accused of failing  to create an effective system to detect suspicious pharmacy orders. This was argued to be a violation of the Controlled Substances Act.

In 2008, McKesson agreed to a $13.25 million civil penalty for actions including failing to report suspicious sales of their drugs on “internet pharmacies.”

 

In a statement, McKesson said it settled “in the interest of moving beyond disagreements about whether McKesson was complying with the controlled substance regulations … and to instead focus on the company’s partnership with regulators and others to help stem the opioid epidemic in this country.”

Powdered medical gloves

Powdered Medical Gloves Banned By the FDA

The use of most powdered medical gloves has been banned by the FDA.

For only the second time in history the FDA has banned a medical device. Powdered medical gloves seem to pose adverse risks.Powdered medical gloves

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that powdered medical gloves (powdered surgeon’s gloves, powdered patient examination gloves, and absorbable powder for lubricating a surgeon’s glove) “present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury.” This has led to a new rule banning these products from use, effective January 18, 2017.

One group has called the ban “18 years too late.” Nearly 20 years ago, in 1998, the advocacy group Public Citizen, filed the first of several citizen’s petition calling on FDA to ban powdered gloves.

After the ban was proposed by the FDA, Public Citizen responded saying that “when a medical product, drug or, in this case device, has unique serious risks but no unique benefit, it should be banned. The FDA’s statement that “we … only take this action when we feel it’s necessary to protect the public health” ignores overwhelming evidence going back almost two decades about the necessity to do so.”

Back in March of 2016, the FDA had prosed the powdered medical gloves citing evidence that they were a  danger to  patients, risks included airway and wound inflammation, post-surgical adhesions and allergic reactions.

Powdered gloves aim to make the removal of gloves easier for medical professionals. So, the FDA had to determine whether the ease of use outweighed the risks.

The rules not that powder is fine when used in the manufacturing process, but should not be a part of the finished product. The rule from the FDA “encourages manufacturers to ensure finished non-powdered gloves have as little powder as possible.”

 

If you believe that you or a loved one might have suffered from the medical use of powdered gloves, let the Medical Claim Legal Team help.

Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Lawsuit

A common household item, talcum powder (baby powder) has recently made headlines involving a 72 million dollar lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. The baby powder lawsuit was filed by the family of a deceased woman who’s ovarian cancer was linked to the use of the product for feminine hygiene.

Common Uses of Baby Powder

  • Pet Cleaner
  • Deodorant
  • Baby/Feminine Care
Baby Powder Lawsuit
The Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuits have reached upwards of 1,200 still-pending cases.

Jackie Fox of Birmingham, Alabama was diagnosed with ovarian cancer roughly two years before her death. At the time of her passing in the fall of 2015, she was involved in a 60-person lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, where her son took over as the plaintiff. The lawsuit resulted in the company owing Fox $10 million in actual damages, and $62 million in punitive damages. According to an AP article, the verdict “doesn’t bode well for Johnson & Johnson” as there are over 1,200 still-pending lawsuits and thousands more are expected.

The ingredient talc, in baby powder, had once contained asbestos which was extremely dangerous and there is speculation of some contamination in the product, but modern baby powder is reportedly asbestos-free. Although the modern powder is “safer” there were dozens of women who sued Johnson & Johnson according to USA Today. The cause and effect relationship between the baby powder and ovarian cancer is somewhat inconclusive according to an ABC News article about the subject, but there are thousands of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson regarding this matter.

 

Why Medical Claim Legal is Right for Your Case

A consultation with our lawyers at Medical Claim Legal is free.  We will assure a lawyer with specific training in the consumer protection litigation field is assigned to your case.  If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer that may be linked to the use of baby powder, you deserve compensation.  Let us help you start the process towards that claim today.