Prescription drugs undergo rigorous testing and trials before their release into the stream of commerce. Non-prescription drugs also follow a regulatory pathway to approval, the Over-the-Counter Drug Review process, and the drug application process.
You probably feel relieved knowing a drugstore purchase is recognized as safe and does what it is supposed to do if used as directed. However, sometimes drugs do more harm than good. For instance, aspirin and any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug are known to cause upper gastrointestinal bleeding in some people.
If you are taking a drug that has been pulled from the pharmacy shelves or are experiencing life-threatening side effects from one, a Chicago dangerous drugs lawyer can assess your circumstances. Our experienced personal injury attorneys can then recommend an action plan for your case.
Who Is Responsible When Drugs Harm Patients?
As an arm of the United States government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the approval of new drugs after being subject to rigorous testing and continues to closely monitor for side effects once the drug is in circulation. Sometimes, manufacturers rush a drug to market and hide questionable side effects. Manufacturers can be held accountable if patients are injured by the drug, and the other parties involved may also be found negligent. These defendants include:
- Testing labs
- Drug distributors
- Doctors who overprescribe pain medication or prescribe a drug for an ailment that the drug is not designated to treat
- Nursing care facilities or hospitals that routinely overmedicate patients
- Pharmacies that fill prescriptions incorrectly
We direct our 65-plus years of experience into researching, building, and winning each case we litigate. Think of the Chicago lawyers handling your dangerous drugs case as your partners. Together with you, we seek justice and the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and long-term harm caused by dangerous drugs.
How Dangerous Drugs Are Deemed Defective
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be defective in three ways. A product liability claim targets the manufacturer if the drug is defective in the making prior to it entering the stream of commerce and reaching consumers. This occurs when a product is tainted with an unintended element or is stored or labeled incorrectly.
Design defects occur when drug formulations are incorrect, causing dangerous side effects. Often, these side effects take years to manifest themselves, such as the main ingredient used in the over-the-counter heartburn drug, Zantac. Ranitidine causes cancer and was the object of a class-action lawsuit.
Pharmaceutical companies must disclose a drug’s side effects in their print and television marketing campaigns. This allows consumers to discuss with their doctors whether the risk is worth it for the benefits that the drug provides. Drug companies must also provide warning labels on the product, and, in most cases, the law mandates the size of the print to ensure consumers see the warnings. This was one of the issues in the Zantac lawsuit when consumers claimed the bottle labels did not contain appropriate warnings.
If you take prescription or over-the-counter drugs that harmed you, our dangerous drugs attorneys in Chicago invite you to share your experience and let us assess your case.
Contact a Dangerous Drugs Attorney in Chicago Who Looks Out for Your Welfare
We are a small firm that focuses on making you feel comfortable, confident in our abilities, and like a member of our family. We put people over production lines that shuffle you through the process, which may be efficient, but is not welcoming or caring.
If an over-the-counter or prescription medication injured you, trust the attorneys with a proven track record of success that matches much larger firms. Our Chicago dangerous drugs lawyer puts the personal in personal injury. Call us today to begin our shared journey of righting the wrong done to you.
