Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorney Blog

Thousands of Philadelphia residents and millions of Americans take the popular medicine Avandia to aid in their struggle with diabetes; however, a study from the Senate is again raising concern for the defective drug. Avandia works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin and unfortunately it also increases the body's sensitivity to coronary problems.

According to a report from the U.S. Senate Avandia is known to increase the chances of a heart attack when prescribed to diabetes patients. In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration forced Avandia to place a warning on its box informing users of the serious heart problems associated with the drug and now after a two year study Congress came within one vote of recommending a withdrawal of the dangerous and defective drug.

From 1999 to 2007 over 80,000 patients on Avandia reported having a heart attack and the Senate report alleges that the manufacturer, GlaskoSmithKline downplayed the reports and the FDA did nothing to stop clinical trials of the drug. Patients suffering from diabetes are at a higher risk of suffering a heart attack and it is the duty of GlaskoSmithKline to report any and all information to the public. Instead the manufacturer downplayed reports of Avandia and tried to downplay reports that a rival drug decreased the chance of a heart attack in patients.

In 2007, The New England Journal of Medicine published a report that Avandia increased the chance of a heart attack by 43%. That report and other information about the drug finally surfacing had the profit for Avandia drop from $2.2 billion in 2006 to $1.2 billion.

Since the forced warning label, the FDA has made no other recommendations to GlaskoSmithKline or the public on the problems associated with Avandia.

Related Sources:

Report: Avandia maker knew of cardiac risks

Philadelphia women who are currently taking hormone replacement therapy drugs should be advised that evidence has been confirmed that hormone replacement therapy drugs are increasing their risks of heart problems.

The study found that women who took combined hormone therapy drugs within the first two years of menopause doubled their risk of heart attack and other coronary problems. These findings have yet to change any of the current recommendations associated with hormone replacement therapy. The lead author of the study recommends that women take the lowest dose possible and say on the drugs for the shortest duration of time. Women and their doctors need to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of taking the drugs to combat effects of menopause such as hot flashes.

The study confirms an earlier study conducted by Women's Health Initiative.

Related Sources:

Early On, Hormone Therapy May Raise Women's Heart Risks

The Food and Drug Administration is forcing the drug giants Amgen and Johnson & Johnson to publicize the risks of their anemia drugs on cancer patients.

Procrit manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and Aranesp and Epogen manufactured by Amgen are multi-million dollar anemia drugs prescribed to cancer patients. The drugs have the ability to limit the number of blood transfusions undertaken by cancer patients. Recent studies have shown that while these drugs may limit the need for blood transfusion they can cause tumors to grow in patients taking the prescribed medications.

The FDA has set up a risk management plan for the companies to warn patients and doctors of the risks associated with these anemia medications. Under the plan the Amgen and Johnson & Johnson have to register each oncologist who prescribes their drugs and ensure that the all of the drugs' risks have been discussed before they are prescribed to patients.

Related Sources:
FDA asks companies to discuss anemia drug risks

Consumer Reports conducted a nationwide study on the amount of central-blood line infections at hospitals and most hospitals in the Philadelphia area were graded above average. Pennsylvania is one of only 23 states that have a policy for all hospitals in the state to mandatory report infections.

Hundreds of thousands people die each year in hospitals due to infection with the most common being a central line infection. Central lines are catheters that are placed in a major vein to quickly deliver medication or fluids to a patient. One third of patients who die in hospitals from infections are from central line infections that occur in intensive care units.

In the Philadelphia area, St. Christopher's and Hahnemann University Hospital scored better than average along with A-I DuPont in Delaware. Surprisingly Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was graded well below average and officials from the hospital have acknowledged the problem and have implemented a system that is already producing better results.

Research has shown that central line infections are relatively easy to avoid with some very simple steps and good hygiene practices. Two thirds of infections can be prevented if hospital staff wash their hands before and after touching a patient or a catheter, disinfect the patient's skin before applying the catheter and wearing protective gear such as gloves, masks, caps, and gowns when caring for a central line patient.

Related Sources:
Consumer Reports exclusive on hospital infections

The Shops at Liberty Place at 17th and Chestnut Street in Center City Philadelphia have a new innovative addition to their ground floor, Drexel University's walk-in clinic. The facility is the first in the city but other city health systems are planning to build similar treatment centers in the area.

The clinic will be open 7 AM to 7 PM and is aimed to cater to the millions of people who live and work in Center City Philadelphia. Doctors and nurse practitioners will staff the clinic and will be able to diagnosis and treat routine medical conditions and if need be patients will be referred to Drexel specialists. Also at the clinic will be a state of the art drug vending machine that is able to easily provide patients with the most common generic drugs without them having to visit a pharmacy.

Doctors are hoping that the convenience of the clinic and the onsite prescription vending machine will help people to see doctors more often and catch problems early. There is also hope that the clinic and others like it will alleviate some of the traffic visiting emergency rooms after the recent concerns about treatment at local emergency rooms.

Related Sources:
Walk-in clinic opens in Center City
Kenneth Rothweiler Appears on Fox 29 Good Day Philadelphia to Discuss Emergency Room Treatment