Medicine has advanced a great deal, and doctor-prescribed and over-the-counter medications have continued to cure countless illnesses. Consumers should feel safe taking them, knowing that thorough scientific research and government oversight are making it safe.
But medicines do sometimes cause harm to consumers. Cancer-causing ingredients and harmful side effects have led to numerous lawsuits against drug companies, manufacturers, physicians, packaging designers, and others along the supply chain. If you suffered injuries after taking a prescription or over-the-counter medication, an Altus dangerous drugs lawyer is available to discuss your plight. You might be able to be compensated for that harm when you work with a skilled personal injury attorney.
The FDA’s Role in Bringing Drugs to Market
Drug manufacturers task scientists with developing medicines the companies put through tests and clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the trials and continues to monitor drugs after they are released to the public, keeping track of whether side effects are discovered. The decision is made to place warning labels on products if the benefit of the drug outweighs the reported issues. A drug may be removed from the market if the issues are severe and widespread.
Pharmaceutical companies or the FDA have the power to remove a dangerous drug from the market. Several drugs linked to cancer or addiction have been removed from commerce recently, resulting in numerous lawsuits, many of them being class actions. A skilled defective drug attorney in Altus could fight for compensation from those who allowed the product to remain on the market, knowing it was harmful.
Dangerous Drugs and Negligence Lawsuits
To prevail in a lawsuit for negligence, plaintiffs must prove four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The duty that pharmaceutical companies have to the public is to offer safe products that perform as intended. Failing to provide safe products constitutes a breach. When, for instance, several users of an over-the-counter antacid develop cancer, the plaintiffs must show the link between the product and their cancer, known as the causation.
The plaintiffs must also show that the drug harmed them. Others who take it and do not develop cancer would have difficulty proving they were harmed, and would likely not prevail in a negligence lawsuit. Questions that you can ask to determine if negligence can be established might include:
- Did you take the medication to treat the ailment it was intended to treat?
- Did you exceed the recommended dosage?
- Did you suffer side effects not listed on the warning label?
- Did you suffer losses such as incurring medical bills and missing work because of the medication?
- Have there been numerous lawsuits citing diseases like cancer linked to the drug company’s product?
An Altus dangerous drugs attorney will study evidence to determine if the elements of negligence are present in order to file a claim, including claims against drugs such as Zantac, Valsartan, Pradaxa, Tasigna, among others.
Learn How an Altus Dangerous Drugs Attorney Advocates for You
Prescription and non-prescription medications have dramatically improved the lives of millions of people. But sometimes, the side effects are so dangerous and potentially deadly that select medications should not be on the market. Some drug companies have been accused of greed for leaving them on pharmacy shelves or not properly labeling the ones that should only be used for a specific purpose.
If you took medication as intended and suffered serious side effects, the drug company, manufacturer, distributor, physician, or pharmacist may owe you compensation for your losses. An Altus dangerous drugs lawyer is ready to review your situation and build a case for negligence. We do not collect a fee unless you recover financial compensation, so call us as soon as possible. We can assist individuals throughout Oklahoma.