Yes, patients who develop epidural abscess infections from tainted NECC drugs have the legal right to sue the company (New England Compounding Center) for compensation, including medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost income, cost of care, disability and other lawful damages. In addition, Fred Pritzker, a lead lawyer for our NECC infection lawsuits, has found evidence sufficient to sue other parties. You should contact Fred for a free consultation here regarding your case to discuss your potential lawsuit.
NECC Epidural Abscess Infections are Dangerous and Must be Treated Immediately
Over 600 dangerous fungal infections have been linked to three lots of NECC methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) used for pain injections. Most of these infections are caused by Exserohilum rostratum, a black fungus (fungi mold) that was found in unopened vials of the NECC MPA. There are also at least two cases of infections from Aspergillus, another fungus. Fred is representing one of these patients.
Some of the NECC injection patients have developed spinal epidural abscesses (a collection of pus (infected material) between the outer covering of the spinal cord and the bones of the spine). Some of them are patients who were recovering from fungal meningitis. Most of the NECC epidural abscess victims had the tainted NECC injections at Michigan Pain Specialists, in Brighton, MI.
Epidural abscess infections are extremely serious and medical attention is recommended as soon as the patient experiences symptoms, which include incontinence, difficulty urinating, fever, back pain, weakness, decreased ability to move and loss of sensation.
Because these infections will not go away without treatment and can be fatal, the CDC is recommending that doctors consider MRI scans in patients who had injections of the tainted NECC MPA, even if they do not feel worse but continue to have pain after the shot. The new CDC recommendations could result in many more confirmed cases of epidural abscess and other infections. The diagnosed patients face months of treatment, which is a long course of antifungal drugs that can have dangerous side effects, including damage to the liver, kidneys and heart. There can also be mental issues, including confusion and hallucinations.
According to Dr. Tom M. Chiller, the deputy chief of the mycotic diseases branch of the CDC, “People could still be harboring or developing infections in their spines now.”
Last week, NECC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing seeks to establish a fund to compensate individuals and families affected by the outbreak of infections (meningitis, epidural abscess, phlegmon, discitis, vertebral osteomyelitis, and arachnoiditis).