Heparin Lawsuits

In January of 2008 the company recalled nine lots of the product as a response to over 100 complaints received by the company complaining of an allergic reaction to the Heparin. The company ceased production of Baxter Heparin until they were able to come to the cause of the problem.

By February of 2008, the Food and Drug Administration had received over 350 complaints about Baxter Heparin so they issued a public health advisory to everyone in the medical industry to stop using the blood thinner. Reports kept coming in and there were four documented deaths relating to the use of Baxter Heparin. By the end of the month, the death toll reached 21 and the FDA recalled Baxter Heparin and demanded the company remove all of the products from the market.

Patients reported side effects to the administration of Baxter Heparin that included difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, and low blood pressure that continued to drop rapidly leading to the possibility of shock and or death.

By March of 2008, the FDA announced that B. Braun Medical Inc., a major supplier of Heparin in Canada, recalled their Heparin products as a precautionary measure just as it was determined by Health Canada that the heparin was tainted.

After investigating these issues, the FDA discovered that the raw ingredients in Baxter's and Braun's heparin came from China... It was determined that the heparin had been combined with chondroitin sulfate, a drug store treatment for joint pain. When the chondroitin is altered its properties are similar to a blood thinning agent like heparin. It has still not been determined whether the tainted materials were done on purpose or if it was accidental.

The FDA had approved a plant in China that provides the ingredients for the heparin products but they never inspected it. The have been questioned for approving Baxter's Heparin without inspecting the plant that supplied it.

If you, someone in your family or anyone you know had a surgical procedure or dialysis procedure that required the use of Baxter Heparin and suffered any allergic reactions as a result, please contact us here at Napoli Bern Ripka Law Firm. You may be eligible for compensation through any number of class action suits against the makers of this drug.

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