A large number of Pennsylvania residents rely on medication to improve and even prolong their lives. Most medicines are safe for consumption because they have undergone stringent testing. However, there are occasions when a drug may harm patients or at least pose a risk of harm. When this happens, the manufacturer of the medicine and/or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may issue a recall.
Sometimes recalls may occur because of issues like poor or confusing package design. Other times, they happen because the product might be dangerous to consumers. Below you will find three additional reasons for medication recalls. Understanding why your medicine harmed you can help you establish grounds upon which to pursue a product liability claim.
Contamination: Despite a drug manufacturer's best purity procedures, contaminants may be present in some drugs. A recall typically occurs in such cases even if the contaminant poses little or no harm to patients.
Hazards: Sometimes, the hazards or health risks associated with a drug are not immediately apparent. Unfortunately, this usually means that innocent victims suffer an illness, injury or death. Although it is too late for some, manufacturers or the FDA will go on to recall the drug.
Mislabeling: A mislabeled drug might say it is one medication when it is not. This means patients taking a mislabeled drug are not getting the medicine they need for a specific condition. This could lead to worsening symptoms or, if the drug is dangerous, an entirely new health condition.
Recalls are implemented to prevent harm. However, sometimes they happen too late, and patients must suffer needlessly. A successful product liability claim can provide victims with the compensation they need to get the right treatment. An attorney can assist with such a claim,