Philadelphia Blood Thinner Misuse Attorney
Heparin and similar blood-thinners have been used to save patients for decades. However, the misuse of these drugs has also led to the death of toddlers and infants. Usually this kind of negligence is the result of poorly labeled bottles or hospital staff members who misread the labels. The most famous case of misuse of Heparin occurred in 2007, when actor Dennis Quaid’s newborn twins were given an overdose of Heparin at a Los Angeles hospital. They managed to pull through the prescription error, but recently a toddler in Nebraska wasn’t so lucky. She died as a result of a Heparin overdose. Contact our Philadelphia medication error lawyers if you have questions regarding a possible lawsuit.
Herapin Overdoses
As a result of the spate of Heparin overdoses, hospitals have employed improved monitoring and dosing systems. The confusing packaging has been redesigned as well, making it easier to distinguish low and high concentrations of the anticoagulant. Like most pharmaceuticals, anticoagulants save lives, but if they’re used negligently, blood thinners can kill. When misuse of Heparin causes severe injury or wrongful death, the hospital may be held liable for the medical malpractice. At Rosenbaum & Associates, we have the experience necessary to prosecute a medical malpractice case. Contact us if you need expert representation for a case of negligence against a hospital that misused Heparin or any other blood thinner. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve if a loved one died or was injured.
Heparin and related blood thinners are hard to manage because their therapeutic/toxic ratio is quite small. That means doctors must be very careful when they administer anticoagulants. If too much Heparin is given, the blood becomes too thin, which makes the patient susceptible to bleeding brain injuries, internal bleeding or other serious medical conditions. If an inadequate dose of Heparin is given, the patient does not enjoy the protection the blood thinner provides from blood clots or pulmonary embolism. It is critical for surgeons to examine the patient’s history to see if a bad reaction to the drug is likely.
Heparin Recalls
Poor labeling and improper dosing aren’t the only problems with Heparin. Heparin’s manufacturer, Baxter International, had to recall contaminated batches during 2008. The contaminated lots were made in China. The bad batches caused such problems as:
- Decreased blood pressure
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Organ failure
The FDA does not recommend high doses of Heparin. Nursing home patients are another group that is at risk for Heparin injuries because many elderly patients use Heparin to keep their blood thin to ward off strokes and blood clots that can travel to the lungs. Patients who should be wary of Heparin misuse include:
- Cardiovascular patients
- Photopheresis patients
- Hemodialysis patients
- Plasapheresis patients
- Patients with blood clots in their arteries
Contact Rosenbaum & Associates
Nobody should suffer due to the medical negligence of hospital surgeons and staff members. The Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Rosenbaum & Associates are committed to getting you the compensation you’re entitled to if you or a loved one suffered through a Heparin dosing error. Call us for a free consultation.