VAN WEY LAW » Kay Van Wey

Levaquin lawsuits

Kay Van Wey — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:23:14 +0000

The popular antibiotic Levaquin was approved by the FDA in 1996. However, in July 2008 the FDA warned consumers that Levaquin (adn other drugs in the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics) put users at a heightened risk for developing tendonitis and tendon ruptures. The FDA ordered the drug’s manufacturer, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) to include a label warning about the heightened risk of tendonitis and tendon ruptures.

The most serious type of tendon injury commonly associated with Levaquin is a ruptures achilles tendon, which typically requires surgery and extensive rehabilitation. Other types of related injuries are tendon ruptures of the rotator cuff, hand, biceps and thumb. Most of these injuries occur either shortly after completing the dose of Levaquin or within several months.

There have already been numerous lawsuits filed across the U.S. The pending Levaquin lawsuits have recently received mass tort designation because there could potentially be thousands filed. The cases have been consolidated in a MDL (Multi-District Litigation) because of the complex issues involved and the common issues of law and fact.
Kay L. Van Wey
VAN WEY LAW, P.L.L.C.
3100 Monticello, Suite 500
Dallas, Texas 75205
214-265-7600
kayvanwey@gmail.com

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Yas/Yasmin birth control pills should be taken off the market

Kay Van Wey — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:45:46 +0000

A study recently published in the British Medical Journal concluded that pills containing the hormones drospirenone or desogestrel may be dangerous. Yaz and Yasmin both contain 3 mg of drospirenone. These drugs, which are manufactured by Bayer are believed to pose a six fold increase in the risk of blood clots, which cause serious injuries such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

It has been alleged that from 2004-2008 Yaz/Yasmin has caused more than 50 deaths, some of these in women as young as 17. These deaths have been associated with cardiac arrythmia, cardiac arrest, intracardiac thrombus, pulmonary embolism and stroke.

Bayer has heavily marketed Yas/Yasmin to young women and has reaped enormous profits through its sales. However, Bayer has continued to minimize the known risks and side effects so as to “not make its customers uneasy” [Hubert Ostendorf-Coalition against Bayer Dangers].

Lawsuits have been filed throughout the United States and have recently been consolidated into a Multi-District Litigation [MDL] in order to streamline discovery and avoid inconsistent rulings. VanWeyLaw is currently representing Yaz/Yasmin victims. If you or a loved one have taken Yaz/Yasmin and have suffered a serious injury, such as pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, cardiac arrest or death, please contact kay@vanweylaw.com for further information.

Posted via email from Kay’s Posterous

Appearance on Dan Rather Reports Tonight, October 27th 2009

Kay Van Wey — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:17:37 +0000

Please tune in for a special Dan Rather Reports episode tonight , Tuesday October 27th at 8:00 PM EST on HDNet . The episode will feature the growing national pill mill problem by profiling Ken and Esther Scarborough of Beaumont, Texas, whose 25-year-old son, Christopher, died an accidental death caused from combined drug toxicity on September 23, 2007.

I represent the Scarborough family and will also appear on the episode to discuss prescription drug diversion throughout the U.S.

VIEWING DETAILS:

Where: HDNet Dan Rather Reports
Live: Viewing details at HDnet
Recording: download the episode on iTunes

The Epidemic of Prescription Drug Overdose Deaths

Kay Van Wey — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:18:41 +0000

With the recent rash of celebrity overdose deaths, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the prescription drug addiction epidemic which is ravaging this country and claiming the lives of her citizens.

According to the CDC,

The mortality rates from unintentional drug overdose (not including alcohol) have risen steadily since the early 1970s, and over the past ten years they have reached historic highs.

The CDC also added that drug overdose deaths are now 4 to 5 times higher than the death rates during the black tar heroin epidemic in the mid-1970s and more than twice what they were during the peak years of crack cocaine in the early 1990s. Currently, people in the 45-54 age group now die of drug overdoses more often than from traffic crashes.

The most common drugs found on autopsy in drug overdose deaths are called narcotics, usually prescription painkillers called opioids. OxyContin , Vicodin and Lortab are examples of opioid painkillers. Methadone is also now widely used as a painkiller in addition to its use for treatment of addiction. Another drug commonly associated with drug overdose deaths is a group of drugs called sedatives like Xanax and Valium. Soma, a powerful muscle relaxer is often in the mix.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, more than 6 million Americans are currently abusing prescription drugs—that is more than the number of Americans abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined. With more current users, we can expect the mortality rates from prescription drug overdose deaths to continue to rise.

The victims are not what many might perceive as a bum living under a bridge. These are our sons and daughters, parents, teachers and neighbors. It affects everyone from the high profile celebrity to the ordinary American.

A multi-pronged approach is needed to address this problem. But, recognition of the problem is a good place to start. It is unfortunate that it took several high profile cases to bring the problem into the public’s eye. But, now that we know, we cannot turn a blind eye. The time is now to begin a dialogue about how to best address this killer epidemic.