When we get sick, we put our health and wellbeing in the hands of our doctors and medical professionals. We trust that they will diagnose our ailment and prescribe the correct treatment. Prescription drugs provide millions of people with the treatment they need and can even increase their quality of life. Defective drugs, however, do exist, and can result in numerous injuries, or even death.

Product liability laws are on the books in order to hold those responsible liable when a drug is found to be defective. They are intended to protect you from the negligence of the drug companies, doctors, or medical professionals.

What Are Defective Drugs?

Defective drugs are those drugs that are on the market for use and are discovered to cause severe adverse side effects. These can include both prescription drugs, and those drugs sold over-the-counter. Sometimes the drug companies are aware of these side effects, but the drugs remain on the market. Essentially, if a drug causes more harm than good, it is defective. If a drug company was aware of these dangers the drug posed, then they are definitely liable to you.

Drug companies have the responsibility of testing their drugs in order to discover any side effects they may pose. The companies must also make every effort to inform those who may take their drugs of the potential side effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also responsible for health and wellbeing by assuring the safety of the drugs that are available to the public. They are in charge of approving drugs for their release to the market. They inadequate testing of the drug companies, however, often leads the FDA to become aware of defective drugs after they have already been released. In this case, a recall is often issued, but recalls are often issued too late, after the drug has already caused injuries or deaths.

Even if it is found that the drug company took certain steps to prevent any harm to those who may take their drug, they may still be held liable for any injuries or deaths caused by the drugs they manufacturer. Only an experienced products liability attorney will be able to assess your specific situation and advise you of whether or not you have a valid legal claim.

Some Dangerous Drugs

Defective drugs are often recalled once they are found to be defective. Some drugs are not recalled, but are required to put a “black box warning” on their labels, which is the strongest warning shy of a recall. Some drugs that have shown to have severe side effects include:

• OrthoEvra Birth Control Patch

• Lovenox

• Vioxx

• Avandia

• Paxil

• Zelnorm