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Most prescription drugs have known side effects. This is not a surprise to the public. However, pharmaceutical companies are legally and ethically required to disclose all such side effects in an effort to prevent serious complications for patients who take their medications. Oregon patients have the right to trust in this level of security. When this does not happen, the need to seek compensation through either medical malpractice or product liability lawsuits may arise.

That is exactly what thousands of people across the United States did after suffering injuries or the loss of loved ones due to risks associated with the blood thinner Pradaxa. Between the time the drug was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 2010 and the following year, more than 540 people had died from uncontrollable bleeding. Thousands more suffered bleeding in the brain, rectum or gastro-intestinal tract. Read more…

Residents in Portland and the surrounding areas must trust in the care of their healthcare providers on a daily basis. This can include physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and more. Most of the time, such trust is warranted but the rate of medical errors does suggest that negligence occurs more frequently than people would like to think. Hospital liability or medical malpractice lawsuits can be filed in such situations, offering victims and their family members some hope of compensation.

A family in California is in such a situation currently over the death of their 80-year old relative at a local hospital. However, their case has taken some unusual turns and they have withdrawn their original lawsuit and filed a new one based upon new evidence that came to light during the first case. After suffering a heart attack, the woman was declared dead and her body was placed in the hospital morgue. Morticians later found her with bruised and cuts on her face and her nose broken. The family filed a suit claiming that her body had been improperly handled. Read more…

Hospital Liability and Medical Malpractice

When Portland, Oregon patients seek medical treatment, they have a desire and a need to trust in the quality of the care that they receive. This includes trust in both the decisions made by and actions of healthcare providers as well as trust in the quality of products or medications that may be used. When a defective product is found to be responsible for negative and potentially even fatal side effects, action must be taken.

Despite being cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 and 2009, more than half of the Stryker Rejuvenate metal hip replacements were reported to lead to patient problems. The high failure rate within only one or two years of being placed and other complications eventually led Stryker to recall the product. In addition, approximately 1,500 lawsuits against the manufacturer have been filed nationwide. Read more…

bicycle accident Portland, Oregon is known for being one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country. With an ever-growing consciousness about the environmental impact of cars and a general awareness about overall health, many Portlanders do not even own cars and instead choose bicycles as their primary means of transportation. The great number of bikes on Portland area roads can help to make motorists more aware of their presence, but that does not negate the risk of being involved in a bicycle accident.

Such was the situation for a 28-year old bicyclist who was hit and killed by a 60-foot delivery truck in the spring of 2012. The woman was riding downtown on Southwest Madison Street approaching Third Avenue. As she neared the corner, the large truck made a right-hand turn in front of her. The woman hit the truck’s bumper, crashed and was run over. She was wearing a helmet and here bike was equipped with night lighting. She later died from her injuries.

Despite the lack of charges levied against the driver, the woman’s parents sought compensation. Just a few weeks ago, they were awarded $700,000 from the trucker’s employer. The offer of the award came just before attorneys for both parties would have given their closing arguments in a trial over the case. Read more…

Nurse and PatientThe rate of medical errors in the United States has grown to the point where it is now considered to be the third-leading cause of death behind only cancer and heart disease. However, negligence on the part of doctors, nurses or medical facilities is not the only danger facing Portland, Oregon patients these days. Injuries resulting from the use of defective medical products can leave many people with serious complications.

A recent media article reported on one such case involving a product designed to stimulate the growth of bone in spine fusion surgeries. Infuse by Medtronic has been used in approximately one million spinal surgeries, yet many people have experienced complications after their surgeries. Often, these problems are caused by excessive bone growth. To date, as many as 700 lawsuits have been filed against Medtronic asserting that the product is faulty. The suits represent complaints by about 1,000 people in all. Read more…