In 2019, there were at least 2,506 cases of vaping-related lung injury (EVALI) in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That includes 54 deaths. It was a sudden spike in patients with respiratory harm that initially confounded emergency room doctors. The symptoms of EVALI mimic the symptoms of the flu … [Read more...]
Up in Smoke: A Recap of Vaping’s Legal and PR Issues
In just five years, vaping has turned from a hot national trend into a roaring wildfire of public health and legal concerns. Keeping track of this on-going story, and looking through the public relations smoke from the vaping companies, isn’t always easy. This article is a complete up-to-date guide to help you keep track of the latest: What … [Read more...]
States and Pharmacies Soon May Be Able to Import Drugs From Canada
Just one year after referring to proposals to allow Americans to import cheaper drugs from our northern neighbor, Canada, a “gimmick,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the federal government is now “open for business” on this idea. A preliminary plan to import less expensive drugs from Canada has been announced; however, certain … [Read more...]
Contaminated Heart Medication Leads to Massive Lawsuits
Extent of Patient Exposure Remains Unknown All prescription medications have a risk of side effects. Typically, those side effects include sleepiness, nausea and other mild issues. Certainly, nobody expects to take a prescription drug and wind up with cancer as a result. Unfortunately, a deadly carcinogen has contaminated an ingredient … [Read more...]
Approval Process for Medical Devices Comes Under Fire
The FDA claims its recent announcement that it will overhaul its approval process for medical devices is completely unrelated to a recent investigation conducted by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which found that over 80,000 people have died, and more than 1.7 million people have suffered injuries due to … [Read more...]
FDA Warns of Genital Infection with Some Diabetes Drugs
It’s estimated by the CDC that approximately 29 million people suffer with diabetes, and to help those who suffer with this complex disease, the FDA approved a class of drugs in 2013 to be used in adult diabetics along with diet and exercise modifications. The Type 2 Diabetes drugs, known as “sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors,” are … [Read more...]
Judge Slashes Punitive Award in Vaginal Mesh Trial
Most of us have heard those commercials about people being injured by defective medical products and the lawyers encouraging victims to call their office and schedule a consultation. While those commercials may seem a bit dramatic at times, faulty medical products can ruin lives, and it happens all too often. In the mildest cases of faulty … [Read more...]
Oklahoma Judge Deems Abortion Law Unconstitutional
Last week, a County Judge in Oklahoma enjoined a law limiting the ingestion of abortion-inducing drugs. Specifically, the law (House Bill 2684) required people seeking an abortion to go to a doctor to have the medication administered. Moreover, the law prevented women from using the drug in an “off-label” manner, though the label has changed since … [Read more...]
Trump’s One-for-Two Regulation Rollback Order Challenged in Court
The Trump administration’s executive order to eliminate two preexisting regulations for every new regulation adopted by the government has been challenged in a lawsuit, which the Department of Justice has so far failed to dismiss despite its efforts. Arguments Against Executive Order No. 13771 Public Citizen v. Trump, filed by a dozen health … [Read more...]
Two House Bills Could Relax Regulations on E-Cigarettes
At the end of April, a bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives that, if implemented, would weaken the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory authority over e-cigarettes. The bill – or “The Cigarette Smoking Reduction and Electronic Vapor Alternatives Act of 2017” (HR 2194) – would overturn the Obama-era regulation known as … [Read more...]
