Report Strange
Side Effects or Malfunctioning Medical
Devices
Recently
we learned about the third recall of Tylenol
products in the past eight months. Children’s
pain and allergy products have been recalled
twice. The third was a result of a hijacked
ship-load of Tylenol, stolen as it was brought
into the United States.
Tylenol’s manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, is
considered to be a good corporate citizen. When
problems crop up, they let us know and act
responsibly. Think back to the early 1980s when
tainted Tylenol resulted in several deaths. Even
though the Tylenol had been tampered with, they
stepped up to make it as right as they could for
consumers.
But these recent recalls prove that even good
corporate citizens can create safety problems
for patients. In fact, since January, more than
a dozen pharmaceutical, dietary supplement and
medical device companies have issued recalls –
some voluntary and some required by the FDA.
From diabetes supplies to dietary supplements to
catheters used on hospital patients, dozens of
products have been recalled or withdrawn from
the market completely.
What makes these products dangerous? Sometimes
substandard manufacturing is the culprit.
Questionable ingredients get mixed into a drug
or damage occurs during the manufacturing
process. Some are manufactured overseas where
standards do not meet the FDA’s guidelines. Bits
of a machine get mixed in, or the components
used are inferior. Other products are
counterfeit and have made their way into our
American drug or device supply.
While there is very little we patients can do to
protect ourselves from being supplied with
problem products, there is something we can do
to assist the process of identifying them. The
sooner problem drugs and devices are identified,
the quicker they are pulled from the market.
Then fewer people suffer from strange side
effects or even real harm.
If you believe something is not right about a
drug or medical device, and your doctor didn’t
mention that problem to you as a potential side
effect, or you don’t see it listed on the label
or packaging, you are asked to report it to the
FDA. The FDA’s MedWatch program gathers evidence
of dangerous and hazardous medical products.
When enough reports are made, a recall will be
initiated.
It's easy to report problem drugs and medical
devices to MedWatch.
Link here for step by step instructions.
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© 2010 Trisha Torrey
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author.
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Trisha Torrey is Every Patient’s
AdvocateTM.
She offers no medical advice,
but empowers those who
want to learn more about
diagnosis and treatment options
by
providing useful tools and
resources.
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