What We Do
Defective Medical Products
- Medicines
- Accutane Lawsuit
- AMO Complete Moistureplus Recall
- Apothecure Colchicine Lawsuit
- Baxter Heparin Recall and Lawsuit
- Bayer Lawsuit
- Bismacine Chromacine
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- Carbinoxamine
- Chromium Poisoning (Toxicity)
- Colchicine Recall Lawyer
- Colistimethate Lawsuit Lawyer
- Compounding Pharmacy Error
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- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl Lawsuit
- Fentanyl Patch Recall
- Fentora
- Fleet Lawsuit - Phosphate Nephropathy Kidney Failure
- Fosamax Osteonecrosis Jaw
- Ketek Liver Failure
- Levaquin Lawsuit
- Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
- Pharmacist Malpractice
- Promethazine
- Rocephin Death
- Selenium Poisoning (Toxicity)
- Topical Anesthetic
- Total Body Formula Recall and Lawsuit
- Trasylol and Kidney Failure
- Trasylol - Lawyer and Lawsuit
- Trasylol Recall
- Tysabri Lawsuit - No Recall
- Tysabri Natalizumab
- Zelnorm Heart Attack Stroke Lawsuit
- Medical Equipment
- Medtronic Defibrillator Leads
- Medtronic Lawsuit
- Medtronic Lawyer
- Guidant Recalls
- Free Guidant Recall Consultation
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- Archives
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- External Monitor Defibrillator
- Neurostimulators MRI
- Prostate Biopsy Device
- Recall AED20 Automatic External Defibrillators
- Recall_Infusion Pumps
- Renal Replacement Recall
- Tissue Implant
- Triaminic Vapor Patch Recall
Welcome to Pritzker | Ruohonen
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C: Defective Medical Products and Procedures
Due to the alleged actions of manufacturers and distributors of medical products, including human tissue, thousands of people have been put at risk for contracting hepatitis C. In March of 2006, the FDA notified medical professionals that Biomedical Tissue Services (BTS) of Fort Lee, New Jersey, illegally harvesting human tissue, bones and tendons. On June 19, 2006, the FDA issued a health notification regarding reusable ultrasound transducer assemblies used for various biopsy procedures. The biopsy procedures were performed by Veteran's Administration medical professionals and other doctors throughout the United States. On August 31, 2006, the FDA notified medical professionals that Donor Referral Services may have illegally harvested human tissue. Patients who have had tissue implants from illegally harvested human tissue or who had a biopsy with a reusable transducer assemble are at risk for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV-1, and HIV-2.
Hepatitis C can be transmitted by infected human tissue. The risk of transmission of hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV during human tissue implantation prompted the promulgation of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 1270.21. This regulation specifically requires human tissue donors to be screened for Hepatitis C (and also Hepatitis B and HIV) and donor specimens to be tested for the same.
Donor Referral Services and BTS-originated human tissue was implanted in thousands of patients. These patients have been notified that they may be at risk for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and/or syphilis. If you are a patient who had a BTS implant/graft or a Donor Referral Services implant/graft, you are at risk for Hepatitis C even if you do not have any symptoms. If you test positive for Hepatitis C, you should contact Fred Pritzker, a lawyer with hepatitis lawsuit experience.
Hepatitis C: Symptoms
80% of the people with Hepatitis C have no symptoms. Symptoms can include the following:
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Dark urine
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
Hepatitis C: Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of Hepatitis C can be devastating and there is no known cure. The long-term effects can include the following:
- 55%-85% of infected persons have chronic infection
- 70% of chronically infected persons develop chronic liver disease
- 1%-5% of infected persons with chronic liver disease may die
- Leading indication for liver transplant
Hepatitis C Legal Considerations: Causation
There are many legal considerations with a Hepatitis C case, far too many to list here. One of the important considerations, however, is causation, which is one of the main legal hurdles in a case claiming Hepatitis C infection from a human tissue implantation. The plaintiff (the victim) has to be able to prove that the BTS implant caused the Hepatitis C.
Proving causation in a hepatitis lawsuit requires the use of expert witnesses with extensive scientific and medical knowledge. The expert witnesses will need to provide solid, persuasive testimony on a number of issues. For your BTS tissue implant case, it will be important for you to find an attorney with extensive experience using expert witnesses in medical and scientific fields. At Pritzker | Ruohonen we focus on complex product liability cases that use expert witnesses with medical and scientific backgrounds. Our experience with hepatitis lawsuits has included finding the right expert witnesses and using their testimony effectively.
In addition to the use of expert witnesses, proving causation in a hepatitis case also requires the use of complex medical evidence. At Pritzker | Ruohonen our work with hepatitis cases and other complex personal injury cases has provided us with extensive experience gathering, comprehending, and effectively using medical eveidence.
Hepatitis C: Lawyer and Free Consultation
If you have tested positive for Hepatitis C (and/or Hepatitis B, HIV or syphilis) after receiving a BTS or Donor Referral Services tissue implant, a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, a nationally-recognized personal injury law firm, is available for a free consultation. You may reach us toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, info@pritzkerlaw.com or our online consultation form.
Resources:
Medline Plus
CDC
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearing House
Free Case Consultation
Firm News
Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury litigation.
Pain and Suffering
Rich Ruohonen recently chaired a legal seminar on obtaining compensation for pain and suffering in a personal injury case. Rich uses his knowledge, experience, and reputation to maximize recoveries for clients.
Medtronic Recall and Medtronic Lawsuit
FDA has annonced a Medtronic Spring Fidelis defibrillator lead recall. Two of our clients with defective Medtronic leads were shocked over twenty times before medical professionals were able to turn off the defibrillator.
Fleet Lawsuit
We are representing several people who experienced kidney failure (acute phosphate nephropathy) after use of Fleet Phospho-soda solution or Fleet Accu-Prep solution for bowel cleansing.
Ortho Evra Lawsuit: Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots that can lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke and heart attack.
Trasylol Recall
Bayer has agreed to a marketing suspension of Trasylol, a drug used to control bleeding during heart surgery, pending detailed review of preliminary results from a Canadian study that suggested an increased risk for death.
Fentanyl Lawsuit and Fentanyl Recall
There have been a number of recalls regarding fentanyl due to the risk of a fentanyl overdose.
Fosamax and Osteonecrosis
Several cases of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw have been associated with the use of oral bisphosphonates, including Fosamax®, Actonel®, and other medications.