Category: Hot Topics

Johnson & Johnson Aware of 40% Failure in Hip Implant

Posted on January 23, 2013 by James Sabatini - Defective Products, Hot Topics, Legal News

An internal analysis performed by Johnson & Johnson in 2011 not long after it recalled a hip implant device estimated that the all-metal device would fail within five years in nearly 40 percent of patients who received it. Johnson & Johnson never released those projections for the device, the Articular Surface Replacement, or ASR, which the company recalled in mid-2010. But at the same time that the medical products giant was performing that analysis, it was publicly playing down similar findings from a British implant registry about the device’s early failure rate. The company’s analysis also suggests that the hip implant will likely fail prematurely over the next few years in thousands of more patients.

If you or loved one has suffered serious injury or complications with a hip implant, call our attorneys today at 860-667-0839.

The company’s analysis also suggests that the implant is likely to fail prematurely over the next few years in thousands more patients.

Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Connected To Contaminated Epidural Steroid Injections

Posted on November 20, 2012 by James Sabatini - Hot Topics, Legal News, Unsafe Drugs

A deadly fungal meningitis outbreak has swept across the nation. CDC and FDA have investigated the outbreak and determined that the fungal meningitis is linked to contaminated epidural steroid injections produced by the New England Compounding Center located in Framingham, Massachusetts. The company has since shut down all operations and has recalled all products compounded and distributed from its Framingham facility. Over 270 people across 16 states have been diagnosed with fungal meningitis linked to contaminated injections. 23 deaths have been reported. The full extent of the outbreak remains unknown as additional cases are being reported. Connecticut is one of the states that received contaminated injections.

Symptoms of fungal meningitis include fever, headache, light sensitivity, neck stiffness, slurred speech, increased pain, redness or swelling at the injection site and new weakness or numbness in any part of the body. The onset of symptoms have occurred from one to four weeks after receiving the injections. However, longer and shorter periods have been reported.

Should you need more information about the outbreak, contact our attorneys at 860-667-0839.

Traffic Deaths Are Climbing Upward

Posted on October 8, 2012 by James Sabatini - Car Accidents, Hot Topics

The National Highway Traffic Administration has noted an uptick in traffic deaths for the first half (January-June) of 2012. An estimated 16,920 deaths in motor vehicle collisions have occurred in the first half of this half. This results in an increase of about 9% in deaths when compared with the 14,950 fatalities in the first half of 2011. The N.H.T.S.A. called this the largest increase during the first half of the year since the agency began collecting car crash data in 1975.

Why this increase? They are several speculated reasons. One, the past winter was mild, thus more people were driving more often. Two, the economy improved, thus more people were driving and driving more often.

Prior to this recent uptick, there had been a six-year decline in the fatality rate. The decline has been attributed to multiple factors including advancements in safety technology, safer roads, public awareness of safe driving techniques, and increased use of seat belts. Lets hope that this recent increase does not start an upward trend.

Transvaginal Mesh & Pelvic Support Device Litigation

Posted on January 28, 2012 by James Sabatini - Defective Products, Hot Topics

Legal claims are being brought by injured women who have undergone surgery to implant transvaginal mesh and pelvic/bladder support medical devices.
Transvaginal mesh and pelvic/bladder support medical devices are used to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). These two conditions result in the weakening of of the pelvic region – a common problem after a hysterectomy or childbirth.

On July 13, 2011, the FDA released a medical alert after receiving reports of over 1500 cases where the use of transvaginal mesh and pelvic/bladder support devices caused serious injury to women. The FDA warned physicians that: (1) in most instances the risk of serious injury outweighed all purported benefits associated with the medical devices; (2) traditional procedures that do not use polypropylene mesh devices should be the primary course of treatment; and (3) the implantation of vaginal mesh/pelvic devices should be limited to last resort treatment cases. The reported injuries that these devices are inflicting upon women include:
1. Erosion of mesh into the vagina
2. Serious infection
3. Urinary problems
4. Pelvic pain
5. Vaginal pain
6. Hardening of the mesh
7. Injury to nearby organs
8. Painful intercourse
9. Recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence
10. Perforations created by the mesh in the bowel, bladder and/or blood vessels
11. Vaginal scarring and other complications
A recent clinical study was conducted to determine the safety of these products. The study was stopped because the problems being seen in the study in patients were too severe. More than 15% of the women in the study experienced the dangerous and painful condition known as “erosion” of the vaginal tissue in which the skins splits and the mesh protrudes. Sabatini and Associates, LLC is actively investigating legal claims on behalf of women who are alleging serious injuries associated with vaginal mesh and the firm is currently accepting new clients involving transvaginal mesh and pelvic/bladder support products.

Firm Hired By Woman Suffering From Bladder Cancer After Taking Actos

Posted on September 20, 2011 by James Sabatini - Hot Topics, Legal News, New Cases, Unsafe Drugs

The Firm has been retained by a woman who has bladder cancer to investigate whether Actos caused her cancer. Our client had been taking Actos for more than one year before being diagnosed with bladder cancer. Recent reports have indicated a potential connection between Actos and bladder cancer. France has suspended the use of Actos and Germany no longer recommends that new patients be prescribed Actos.

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