Month: September 2018

Dangerous carcinogens discovered in heart medication Valsartan

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In July of 2018, concerns about cancer prompted the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to issue a voluntary recall for the blood pressure and heart medication Valsartan. Doctors prescribe Valsartan for patients to treat their high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.  Pharmacies are sending letters to patients who have been taking Valsartan, advising them that the drug may contain the cancer causing chemicals Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). A Chinese company, Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Company, manufactures Valsartan which is distributed by three companies in the United States: Major Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and Solco Healthcare.

The FDA has recalled the following Valsartan defective products:

  • Major Pharmaceutical’s Valsartan 80 and 160 mg;
  • Solco Healthcare’s Valsartan 40, 80, 160 and 320 mg; Valsartan /HCTZ 80 mg/12.5 mg, 160 mg/12.5 mg, 160 mg/25 mg, 320 mg/12.5 mg, and 320 mg/25; and
  • Teva Pharmaceutical’s Valsartan 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg, and 320 mg; Valsartan/HCTZ 80 mg/12.5 mg, 160 mg/12.5 mg, 160 mg/25 mg, 320 mg/12.5 mg, and 320 mg/25 mg.

Although not currently produced or used in its pure form commercially in the United States, the organic chemical NDMA was formerly used in the production of rocket fuel, antioxidants, and as an additive for lubricants and softeners.  The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) classifies NDMA as a probable human carcinogen which may cause cancerous tumors in the liver, kidney and respiratory tract, or increase the risk for developing gastric, colorectal, or lung cancer. Individuals who took the contaminated Valsartan drugs may have been exposed to NDMA for up to four years before being notified.

Although patients taking the recalled Valsartan medications may be at risk for developing cancer, doctors urge these individuals not to immediately stop taking the medication because this drug is prescribed to control a person’s high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. Instead, patients should continue taking the medication until their doctor recommends a new drug or some other alternative treatment option. Some individuals may be tempted to continue taking the recalled medication because they have a large supply of the prescription and the expiration date extends into 2019. Pharmacists, however, are strongly urging anyone who has any remaining supply of a recalled Valsartan product to return it to the pharmacy in exchange for a new medication not contaminated by NDMA or NDEA.

Our experienced product liability lawyers are ready to take action for individuals who have been harmed by this defective drug. If you or a loved one has taken Valsartan and developed any of the cancerous conditions discussed in this blog, please call 1-800-YOST-LAW. Our team of experienced attorneys will provide you with a free initial consultation and will help you get the justice that you deserve.

Yost Legal Group Selects Recipient of 2018 College Essay Scholarship

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As always, Yost Legal Group is thrilled by any opportunity to help students in our community succeed. This year, the Yost Legal Group 2018 College Scholarship Essay Program welcomed submissions from current or prospective undergraduate students attending accredited universities and colleges.

This year’s recipient was awarded a $1,000 scholarship toward tuition to help them pursue their chosen field of study. The chosen topic this year was “How to Change a Negative Societal Problem in the United States.”

This Year’s Recipient

This year’s winner of the Yost Legal Group 2018 College Scholarship Essay Program—Niko Eppolito— wrote about the rising costs of college tuition across the United States. His potential solutions including spending cuts and a tuition cap to reduce the burden on students and parents.

After meeting his general education requirements at a local community college, he was accepted into the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) to earn his Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Accounting and Economics.

During his time at UWL, he entered the Integrated Core Program through the College of Business. Once there, he received multiple scholarships and an internship as a Business Systems Analyst with a major manufacturer. He serves as treasurer for the volunteer organization Advocates for Children.

The entire staff at Yost Legal Group offers Niko our congratulations. We know he will put this award to the greatest possible use.

Our Thanks to All Respondents

The staff of Yost Legal Group extends our thanks to every student who participated this year. We found every submission enlightening and informative. We wish all of you a bright future

Persistent Abdominal Pain, Nausea and Vomiting May Be Caused By Defective Hernia Mesh

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Reports show that more than 90 percent of the 1-million-plus hernia repair surgeries performed every year in the U.S. rely on the use of hernia mesh. Unfortunately, many of these mesh products have been found to be defective. In fact, hernia mesh manufacturers have recalled more than 211,000 units of defective mesh from 2005 to March 2018. These manufacturers include Atrium Medical, Bard Davol and Ethicon.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has blamed recalled hernia mesh for serious complications following implantation that requires additional corrective surgery. These complications include adhesion, bowel obstruction, bowel perforation, and migration. Other reported complications include pain, serious infection, rejection, and hernia recurrence after being implanted with hernia mesh.  The FDA issued its first safety warning to alert users of the problems caused by these defective products in 2014.

The complications caused by defective hernia mesh often give rise to common, everyday symptoms such as persistent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Because many symptoms caused by hernia mesh are common everyday symptoms, it can be difficult to know if those symptoms are related to a defective mesh product. Also, symptoms related to defective hernia mesh can occur soon after surgery or many years later.

If you have suffered from complications after having a hernia surgery that used hernia mesh, you may have been implanted with a defective or recalled mesh. The experienced product liability attorneys at The Yost Legal Group can help you find out what mesh you have and if it has been determined to be defective or has been recalled. Call The Yost Legal Group today at 1-800-YOST-LAW (800-403-7259), for a free consultation with one of our expert hernia mesh attorneys.

Metal on Metal Hip Replacements Linked to Serious Neurological Side Effects

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A 2017 Health Watch study reported that elevated blood metal levels from metal-on-metal hip replacements are toxic to the brain. The findings of this research confirm an alarming and previously unknown risk of metal-on-metal hip replacements known as Arthroplasty Cobalt Encephalopathy (ACE).  This condition includes a number of serious neurological side effects, including mood swings, tremors, fatigue, balance issues, vision and hearing loss, as well as other cognitive problems.

Since the introduction of metal-on-metal hip implants to the marketplace, doctors and patients have discovered the harm they cause by increasing metal levels found in the human body. Most complications with metal hip implants are caused by high metal levels in a patient’s bloodstream, which doctors diagnose as metallosis. This condition occurs when the cobalt-chromium components of the hip implant grind together, breaking off metal fibers that are then released into the body. These metal fragments migrate through the bloodstream and reach the brain, causing ACE.

In general, doctors diagnose ACE by using blood tests and PET scans. However, diagnosing the link between a metal-on-metal hip replacement and cognitive decline associated with ACE can prove challenging. First, although the onset of neurological symptoms can be an early indicator of elevated metal levels in the blood, the diagnosis of ACE can be easily overlooked, as early neurological evaluations do not typically include a blood panel analysis. Moreover, even if blood tests are conducted as part of a neurological evaluation, studies show ACE presents in patients with levels below the range normally associated with a metallosis diagnosis.  Additionally, another difficulty in diagnosing ACE exists for older patients. Although not related to age, ACE symptoms such as memory loss and tremors can be too easily labeled as dementia. If an older metal-on-metal hip implant patient experiences ACE caused neurological changes, they may be overlooked and misdiagnosed as part of the aging process. As a result, the importance of monitoring blood metal levels in metal-on-metal hip replacement patients is absolutely critical.

Manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip replacements ignored the risks of introducing dangerous metal alloys into the human body. Because of these defective products, many individuals have experienced serious and harmful neurological side effects. Our product liability lawyers seek justice for people whose everyday lives have been affected by these unsafe medical devices. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from a metal-on-metal hip implant, you may be entitled to compensation. For a FREE and confidential consultation, call the Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW (1-800-967-8529).

The Catholic Church’s Sexual Abuse Conspiracy in America

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Few institutions commanded more trust and respect from followers than the Catholic Church. But that is changing. It has been reported that over the last 40 years, the Catholic Church in the United States and its insurance companies have paid out more than $3.8 billion in lawsuits and claims involving allegations of clerical sexual abuse. A recent Pennsylvania investigative grand jury produced a report close detailing credible reports of abuse by the Catholic clergy affecting over 1000 children and adults. The grand jury determined at least 300 priests were to blame. The final report tells of an undisputed culture of sexual abuse and cover up at the upper levels of the church. The question now is whether the state prosecutors will institute criminal actions against the pedophiles and their protectors.

Apparently, this is not limited to the United States. There have also been findings of sexual and psychological abuse in Catholic-run industrial schools and orphanages in Ireland for most of the 20th Century, as well decades of sexual abuse totaling tens of thousands of children, in Australian institutions. The Catholic Church in Chile has been under fire as Chilean prosecutors cited cases of sexual abuse involving 266 victims, including 178 children, and date as far back as the 1960s.

The details of the Pennsylvania grand jury report show a pattern of protecting pedophiles who are priests. The Catholic Church substituted its sacrament of reconciliation for the legal system’s prosecution of criminal acts. But reconciliation can only be given to those who confess and are truly repentant. It has been reported that abusers were simply moved to new parishes, given a fresh start, which included access to children and others. The sentiment today is that no man is above the law. The Catholic Church’s standing in the United States in particular, is in a precarious place.

The limitations to bring criminal actions against pedophiles and rapists varies from state to state. There are also time limits to sue the Catholic Church. The laws providing time for victims of sexual abuse who were minors have changed over time. In Maryland the law for minor sex abuse victims has evolved from requiring a suit to be filed by age 21, then 28, and now 38. There may be other changes in the laws of various states permitting new suits to be filed for sexual abuse. It is also possible the Catholic Church will acknowledge this dark page in its history and do right by the people it did not protect.

If you or a loved one has questions about your right to compensation from sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic church, call the Yost Legal Group at 1-800-YOST-LAW. There is no fee or expense unless you recover. Speak to an experienced lawyer for a free initial consultation. Thousands have been affected. You are not alone.

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