You Have Rights Blog
More Regulation Of Heparin is Needed to Avoid Deaths, Injuries
Friday, September 26, 2008
The commonly used blood-thinning drug heparin has caused dozens of deaths and serious injuries in recent years. Many of the injuries were preventable if hospitals had taken steps to prevent mistakes in administering heparin and other blood thinners, according to a national hospital accreditation agency. The Joint Commission, an independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, is urging hospitals to adopt stricter standards for the use of anticoagulants like heparin. The commission issued a safety alert to hospitals on September 24, 2008. By taking time to double-check their…
FDA Posts List of Potentially Dangerous Prescription Drugs
Monday, September 08, 2008
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has for the first time posted on its website a list of potentially unsafe prescription drugs – a move officials said is designed to help consumers and physicians better keep track of drugs currently being reviewed for complications. Each of the 20 drugs now on the list is being further evaluated by the FDA for a variety of potentially life-threatening safety problems, side effects, and complications. The list, released as part of the agency’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS), will be updated four times each year, officials said. The list of potentially dangerous prescription…
Chinese Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals Puts Patients at Risk
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The decision by Baxter International to hire a Chinese pharmaceutical supplier to provide ingredients in the blood thinner heparin has been blamed for dozens of patient deaths and hundreds of injuries worldwide. The controversial move calls into question the growing practice of Western drug manufacturers in relying on Chinese pharmaceutical firms, who often do not follow the same safety standards as American and European firms.Critics contend the cost-cutting move to go overseas and contract with Chinese pharmaceutical plants to produce drug ingredients potentially puts millions of patients unnecessarily at risk of death and serious injury.Halt Chinese Manufacturing Pending Further InvestigationMark…
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