Many Ohio residents trust their doctors regarding the use of medication and medical devices. However, each year, the Food and Drug Administration determines that some medicines and medical devices pose risks that make them unacceptable for patients to use. The following is a quick rundown of notable 2020 recalls.
Metformin and Zantac
Contamination with the carcinogen NDMA was the reason behind several 2020 drug recalls. Two of the most well-known drugs to make this list are metformin and Zantac. The FDA reports finding small amounts of NDMA in the supplies of both medicines. The FDA aims to protect consumers from risks associated with NDMA exposure.
Talcum powder
The recall for Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder began in October 2019 when the FDA discovered asbestos contamination in some samples. The company decided to remove the product from markets in the United States five months later to protect itself from future lawsuits.
Hand sanitizer
The FDA advised consumers in June 2020 regarding the risk of 1-propanol or methanol contamination with some hand sanitizer products. These alcohol types are toxic and can result in serious health problems over time. The FDA website maintains a complete list of hand sanitizers that pose a health risk to consumers.
BD Alaris system
Software problems with infusion pumps and modules caused BD Alaris to recall more than a million of these devices in 2020. Hospitals and other medical facilities use these pumps to deliver medicines like antibiotics, insulin and chemotherapy to their patients. The FDA designated three products as Class I recalls. This designation indicates the presence of a “reasonable probability” of adverse health consequences for users of the products.
Patients and consumers often possess confidence in medicines and products suggested to them by medical professionals, but there are occasions when these products are not safe to use. Individuals who become injured or sick after using a recalled medicine or defective medical device may benefit from speaking with an attorney familiar with mass torts.
