Dangerous Drugs Archives - New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical Malpractice Attorneys Report FDA Recall of Cardiac Science AEDs

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a class 1 recall for a number of Cardiac Science’s Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). A class 1 recall, as described on the FDA’s website, is issued for

“dangerous or defective products that predictably could cause serious health problems or death. Examples of products that could fall into this category are a food found to contain botulinal toxin, food with undeclared allergens, a label mix-up on a life saving drug, or a defective artificial heart valve.”

The FDA’s recall comes after Cardiac Science issued their own voluntary recall of the same products. Medical malpractice attorneys urge patients who may be affected by these recalls to speak with their doctors immediately and contact an attorney. Below is the FDA’s actual announcement.

new jersey philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers, medical malpractice attorneys

Medical Malpractice Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one may be affected by this or any other FDA recall, contact the personal injury and medical malpractice attorneys of Messa & Associates by calling 1-877-MessaLaw, or by submitting an online inquiry for a free case evaluation.

Birth Defects Attorneys: Study Links Topiramate to Oral Birth Defects

While pregnant, women need to be especially careful about what foods and medications that they put into their bodies. Early in the first trimester, while many women are not even aware that they are pregnant, the baby is at a heightened risk for birth defects due to medications being ingested by their mother. Our birth defects attorneys have been writing for months about the drug Topamax and its connection to cleft lip and palate birth defects.

Mothers Taking Active Ingredient in Topamax Three Times More Likely to have Children with Birth Defects

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys topamax topiramate studies A recent study called Comparative Safety of Topiramate During Pregnancy, performed by researchers from Harvard University, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, and Loyola University in Chicago, has come to the conclusion that topiramate increases chances of birth defects. According to the study, women who take the active ingredient in the medication Topamax during their first trimester of pregnancy increase the risk of their children being born with major oral birth defects. The study analyzed statistics of 6,456 pregnant women and “compared the frequency of adverse pregnancy outcomes for those who had used topiramate during their first trimester to a control group.” The results were that the children whose mothers took topiramate were almost three times more likely to be born with a birth defect, 3.8 %, than the mothers who did not, 1.3 %.

Birth Defects Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you are a pregnant and currently taking Topamax or any drug containing topiramate, speak with your doctor as soon as possible about other, safer options. If you are a parent who has recently given birth to a child who suffers from a birth defect that you believe can be attributed to a prescription drug, contact the Mininno Law Office to speak with birth defects lawyers and discuss your legal rights. You may also call for a free case evaluation and consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys Reveal List of Anti-Convulsants Causing Birth Defects

It is no secret that pregnant women have difficulty with medications, as many medicines and drugs can have extremely adverse effects on a fetus. Birth defects attorneys remind pregnant women to always check with their OB/GYN before taking any medications.

Because medicines can have such devastating effects on a pregnancy, a pregnant woman’s medicinal treatment is usually quite limited. For pregnant women suffering from epilepsy, that treatment is about to become even more limited.

Topamax, the FDA, and AdverseEvents, Inc.

birth defects attorneys in nj and pa Months ago, the Mininno Law Office blog posted about the anti-epileptic drug Topamax, which was shown to cause oral malformations, such as cleft lip or cleft palate, in newborns whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy. The FDA recently changed the drug’s classification from Class C, which is a drug that displayed adverse fetal effects during animal testing, to Class D, which is a classification for drugs that display “positive evidence of human fetal risk.” Now, a litany of other anti-epileptic drugs have been added to a list of drugs that are dangerous to fetuses.

Unfortunately, thanks to the competitive nature of Big Pharma, attorneys, consumer protection and/or patient advocacy groups, and private companies are the people releasing information about the dangers these drugs pose when taken during gestation; dangers as told by the FDA’s Adverse Events Reporting System.

AdverseEvents Inc. is a private company that analyzes the FDA’s adverse drug event database for use in the healthcare industry. AdverseEvents Inc. discovered that the following drugs had as many as 25 reports of birth defect related complications.

Carbatrol/Tegretol – head and facial deformities, spina bifida, and heart defects
Depacon/Kene/Kote – neural tube defects, craniofacial defects, cardiovascular malformations
Dilantin – oral/heart malformations, growth/mental retardation, Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome
Keppra – skeletal problems, slowed growth (before and after birth)
Klonopin – Oral malformations (cleft lip/palate), limb defects, infant withdrawal
Lamictal – cleft lip, cleft palate
Neurontin – spina bifida
Trileptal – craniofacial defects, miscarriage
Zonegran – spina bifida, cerebral palsy, cleft lip/palate

None of the above drugs have had classifications changes from the FDA, but for a few, it is only a matter of time.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you are a pregnant and currently taking any of the aforementioned anti-epileptic drugs, speak with your doctor as soon as possible about other, safer options. If you are a parent who has recently given birth to a child who suffers from a birth defect that you believe can be attributed to one of the above prescription drugs, contact the Mininno Law Office to speak with birth defects attorneys and discuss your legal rights. You may also call for a free case evaluation and consultation at 856-833-0600 in New Jersey, or 215-567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Psychosocial Problems in Children

Many children who suffer from oral malformations like cleft lips or cleft palates will also suffer from the psychosocial problems associated with looking different from everyone else at a young age. Often, doctors will suggest surgery when a child is born with a birth defect , in hopes of correcting the issue and allowing a child to live a normal and healthy life, free of rejection and taunting connected with their birth defect. Unfortunately, some people do not have their malformations corrected in their early years and those individuals are at a higher risk to develop issues with self image and self esteem.

The Challenge with Adolescents

As children grow older, a birth defect may have a more drastic effect on their self-esteem, social skills, and behavior. This elevated risk could have a dramatic influence on how individuals view themselves and could harm their ability to form relationships with peers. Increased anxiety and dissatisfaction with peer relationships can probably be linked to the associated stigma of visible deformities and speech abnormalities. The challenge for families of adolescents with birth defects is to be aware of the psychosocial challenges that these people may face. Professionals note that it is well documented, through various forms of research, that these individuals face some difficult challenges as they grow older. Birth defects attorneys urge parents and families to seek professional help if any issues do arise.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many parents who have children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are often overwhelmed and, in some instances, confused about their legal rights. In cases where Topamax is involved, our professionals will indeed be necessary. Topamax is an anti-epileptic drug used to treat epileptic seizures and migraine headaches. The drug has been shown to cause the development of oral clefts in utero when taken by pregnant women. If you given birth to a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate and you believe Topamax may be to blame, Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys: Answering Questions about Surgical Scars

Our professionals would like to give you some information regarding the healing process that follows your child’s cleft lip or palate surgery. There are many questions a parent may have following a child’s scar, which is likely to happen from surgery. Our birth defects attorneys believe that being informed is that best thing you can do for your child and his or her health, so please enjoy the following post.

Common Scar Concerns

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys answering questions surgical scars Many parents are alarmed after their child’s surgery when new scars are red. During the healing process, the body re-routes blood vessles to the scar to bring an extra supply of blood, creating that red color. The red will progressively darken for about three months and will be raised off the skin and stiff to the touch. Eventually, the scar will fade, soften, and flatten. Ultimately, the scar should look like a soft, flat, white line.

Your child’s scar is permanent but as it becomes more mature, it will be less noticeable than when it was new. Healing is different from person to person, and many people have scars that are barely noticeable. However, using vitamin E to heal the scar is a largely futile effort, as there has been no conclusive evidence linking vitamin E to scar healing. Essentially, you need to be patient and wait for the scar to heal.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Our experienced and caring professionals are standing by to assist you with your legal needs. Many times people need the services of birth defects attorneys, yet they do not even realize it. For example, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been downgraded to a Category D Pregnancy drug, meaning that there are negative effects associated with the use of Topamax during and before pregnancy. If you believe that Topamax was responsible for your child’s birth defect please contact the Mininno Law Office at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia for free consultations and case evaluations.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Cleft Palate Development

new jersey philadelphia birth defects injuries attorneys cleft palate development Birth defects attorneys are often asked by their clients, “what caused my child’s cleft palate?” Unfortunately, there is little known about the actual cause of cleft lips and palates, but some information is known about certain contributing factors. A cleft (lip, palate, or both), which occurs in about 1 out of 700 babies born,is present where the palate does not fuse completely, meaning full development did not occur. Professionals know that there are a wide range of factors that can hinder development, like environmental factors, alcohol use, drug use, and genetics. Additionally, certain prescription medicines have been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lip/palates. So while there is no known exact cause for a cleft lip or palate, there certainly are contributing factors.

One Contributing Factor: Topamax (Topiramate)

One factor that contributes to the development of cleft lips and palates discussed above is prescription medicine. The drug Topamax, commonly used to treat migraine headaches and seizures, has been linked to increased incidents of cleft lips and palates. The FDA has recently announced its findings regarding the drug, and has downgraded it to Pregnancy Category D (meaning the drug has known pregnancy complications). There are legitimate uses for Topamax, but if it was taken prior to or during pregnancy it may be responsible for your child’s cleft lip or palate.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or a loved one has taken Topamax during or prior to pregnancy and has given birth to a child with a cleft lip or palate you have legal options. Our experienced professionals are willing and able to secure your fair compensation for your child’s birth defect, which will surely make recovery easier. It is important to act quickly as there may be time restrictions on filing a claim. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation and consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys Talk About The Cost of a Topamax Lawsuit

Whenever you hear someone talk about “their lawyer,” it is natural to wonder what the services of an attorney would cost. In many cases, lawyers’ fees are expensive, and in some instances, cost-prohibitive. When you are dealing with your child’s cleft lip or cleft palate birth defect, additional concerns, like the cost of a lawsuit, really have no place in your life. You are stressed enough as is, and providing care for your child is your number one priority. With this in mind, the caring and experienced birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office want to draw your attention to the true costs of trying your Topamax lawsuit.

Topamax Lawsuits and the Cost

The FDA has recently upgraded their warning to pregnant women about Topamax (Topiramate) to a Pregnancy Category D drug, meaning that there are recorded instances of negative pregnancy effects from the drug. In this case, Topamax has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates. Because Topamax can reasonably be assumed to be a contributing cause to these birth defects, the Mininno Law Office is willing to get you the compensation you deserve.

Birth Defects Attorneys Discuss Cost of Topamax Lawsuits — The Mininno Team

What is the cost? There is no upfront cost because the birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office work on what is called a “contingency basis.” This essentially means that the Mininno Law Office pays all the expenses for trying the case upfront, and you do not pay a cent. In exchange, when you recover a judgment or settlement, the birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office receive a percentage of the judgment. Essentially, the Mininno Law Office is paid only when you are, and you owe no money at all if no money is recovered. There really is nothing to lose by speaking with the birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office to discuss your options.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

The caring birth defects attorneys of the Mininno Law Office are prepared to get the compensation that you and your family deserve for your child’s birth defect. If you believe that Topamax was a cause of your child’s cleft lip or palate do not hesitate to contact the Mininno Law Office at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. As always, we do not get paid unless you do, and we offer free case evaluations and consultations.

Birth Defects Attorneys: Timetable to Follow Up With Doctors After Surgery

After a cleft lip/cleft palate surgery, it is important to listen to your doctor’s guidelines and follow up based on the doctor’s instructions. Just like you regularly would check in with your birth defects attorneys, it is very important to check up with the medical team at the appropriate intervals. Your child is likely going to be in some pain after the surgery, and he or she needs to be given the appropriate time to heal before follow-up work is done. As always, follow your doctor’s instructions for the safest and most optimal recovery.

Follow Up Visits

Once your child is discharged, there are typically two follow up dates that are required. The first visit should be at seven to ten days after surgery. The second appointment should usually be at about three weeks after the surgery. Finally, if there happens to be a wound breakdown, it is usually advisable to wait at least six months after surgery to attempt to close it. This is because blood supply needs to be reestablished to the tissues.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Many parents who have children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are often overwhelmed and, in some instances, confused about their legal rights. They are especially confused about whether or not the services of birth defects attorneys would be needed. In some cases, there have been improper actions that may have led to your child’s birth defect and contacting birth defects attorneys is beneficial to your family’s physical and financial health. For example, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate), taken during pregnancy or during child-bearing years, has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and cleft palates. We are able to assist parents dealing with these issues. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defects Attorneys: The Danger of Topamax

Topamax (Topiramate) is a drug produced by two divisions of Johnson & Johnson that is prescribed for two conditions; epilepsy and migraines. For both conditions, the drug is used preventatively. It can not relieve seizures or migraines already happening, but, taken on a regular basis, can help to prevent them from occurring. Off-label uses of the drug, for which Johnson & Johnson and Ortho-McNeil Neurologics were sued and found accountable, include bipolar disorder, alcoholism, obesity, infantile spasms, myoclonic seizures, and absence seizures. Professionals realize that because of the wide disbursement of the medication, many different people have been affected by its side effects, and need to be informed and warned about the dangers of its use.

What are the Dangers of Using Topamax?

new jersey philadelphia topamax topiramate cleft lip palate birth defects attorneys A recent FDA announcement warned that using Topamax has been linked to an increase in the development of cleft lips and palates by over 21 times the normal rate. This side effect manifests in women who have taken Topamax while pregnant, or before becoming pregnant, but during child-bearing years. Topamax has been classified as a Pregnancy Category D drug, meaning there is positive evidence of human fetal risk, but usage of the drug may continue if medically necessary. If your child was born with a cleft lip, palate, or both, and you took Topamax while you were pregnant, or before becoming pregnant, it may be responsible for the development of your child’s birth defect.

Our attorneys caution you to consult your physician immediately, if you have not already done so, to discuss what these new dangers mean to you. Please note, that you should consult your physician before discontinuing usage of Topamax, as there may be complications associated with a rapid discontinuance.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a cleft palate/lip and you were taking Topamax before or during pregnancy you are wondering what are your legal rights. You may also be wondering what the cost will be to have legal representation. Our experienced professionals are here to help. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation and consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. You and your child deserve compensation, so please do not hesitate.

Birth Defects Attorneys Communicate Cleft Palate Resources

We have been discussing cleft lip and palates in a variety of different topics on this blog, including surgery and medical care. However, it is important to know that there are other resources around the world (and web) that can be beneficial to helping your child overcome his cleft lip/palate birth defect. Our attorneys care about you and your family’s well-being and wish to provide a link to scholarship opportunities for students attending college.

The Cleft Palate Foundation’s College Scholarship

new jersey philadelphia birth defects attorneys cleft palate resources Our birth defects attorneys believe that the Cleft Palate Foundation is an invaluable resource of knowledge for families with members who have a cleft lip or palate, of any age. While the website itself is a great resource for knowledge, they also have an annual scholarship fund, and applications for the 2012-2013 school year are being accepted until January 1st, 2012. It is uplifting to see the past recipients of the scholarship as well, because you can see their corrective surgery, as well as the bright future ahead of them. Please submit your application to them and good luck with the selection process.

Birth Defects Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia

Our professionals are available for your needs. If your child was born with a birth defect, like a cleft lip or palate, your legal rights may have been affected. For instance, the FDA has recently announced that Topamax (Topiramate) has been linked to the development of cleft lip/palates. If you believe that this drug may have contributed to the development of your child’s birth defect contact the Mininno Law Office at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia for a free case evaluation and consultation.