Tag: consumer

Study Reveals Kidney Disease Patients Have 27% Higher Risk Of NSF

Kidney Disease Patients Have Higher Risk Nsf Drug Toxic Chemicals

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Study Reveals Kidney Disease Patients Have 27% Higher Risk Of NSF

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania in Philidelphia reveals that patients with advanced kidney disease who are exposed to gadolinium based contrast agents (dyes used in MRIs and MRAs) have a 27% higher risk of developing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
Details of the study
According to a study published in the Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation Journal, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philidelphia and Doctor Rajender Agarwal reviewed data from seven previous studies on the links between advanced kidney disease patients who are exposed to gadolinium based contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) – a serious condition which may consist of:
Burning of the skin
Hardening or tightening of the skin
Itching
Muscle weakness
Pain deep in the hip bones or ribs
Red or dark patches on the skin
Stiffness in joints and trouble moving or straightening the arms, hands, legs, or feet
Swelling
Yellow spots on the whites of the eyes
The hardening process also causes contractures which can become so serious that individuals have a hard time moving, and in some cases, can’t ambulate at all.
They concluded that patients with advanced kidney disease were 27 times more likely to develop NSF if they were exposed to gadolinium products than those that were not exposed.
Gadolinium manufactures & FDA warnings
Several companies manufacture gadolinium including Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Bracco Diagnostics, GE Healthcare and Mallinckrodt and the products involved are OmniScan (gadodiamide), OptiMark (gadoversetamide), Prohance (gadoteridol), Magnevist (gadopentate dimeglumine) and MultiHance (gadobenate dimeglumine).
While the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning (the strongest warning given by the FDA) in 2007 on gadolinium products, these products continue to be used. Lawsuits over NSF and NFD (Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy) injuries continue to be filed alleging that manufacturers failed to 1) adequately test these products and 2) warn consumers of the possibility of contacting the disease once known.
Manufacturers rumored to be settling cases,/b>
According to news reports, gadolinium manufacturers may now be settling lawsuits. Bloomberg News and Reuters have each reported that Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals has begun settling gadolinium lawsuits – and it is likely that other manufacturers will follow Bayer’s lead.
If you believe that you may have been injured due to a gadolinium based contrast agent, it’s important to see your doctor right away as tests can be done to determine whether you’ve contracted NSF/NFD. Contacting an experienced products liability attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options.

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What is credit?

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What is credit?

Credit is money a creditor or lender makes available for you to borrow with a deferred repayment. In exchange for the credit, the lender gets back the money, usually paid on a monthly basis, plus interest. The debtor gets the use of the money to pay for and take possession of goods and services immediately. Modern society is dependent upon credit to generate sales; it enables people to have the things they want and need, but can’t afford to pay for right away.

Interest is the compensation that the creditor demands for the use of his/her money. Money has a “time value” to it. Over time the value of money decreases (due to inflation): what a dollar will buy today is much less than what a dollar could purchase 20 years ago. Since a creditor pays out money today in exchange for a repayment of it in the future, the creditor loses the time value of that money. In order to make credit available, creditors are allowed to charge interest, often referred to as a finance charge. For example, if a lender gives you $10 worth of credit, s/he might expect to be repaid $11 within the next two months; the extra dollar is the interest charged for the loan.

Interest on credit can be either simple or compound.

Simple interest is interest charged only on the principal amount borrowed. Simple interest does not add the interest charge back to the outstanding loan during the length of the loan. Compound interest is interest charged not only on the principal, but on the interest accrued during the length of the loan. Thus, simple interest charges are less than compound interest charges.

Credit is extended pursuant to a written contract. The written contract sets forth the respective rights and responsibilities of the creditor and the debtor. Credit can be used by both businesses and individuals. When an individual uses credit, it is referred to as “consumer credit.”

(Reviewed 11.3.08)

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Drug Warnings: Fosamax Side Effects and Risks

Fosamax Side Effects Risks Drug Toxic Chemicals

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Drug Warnings: Fosamax Side Effects and Risks

Merck’s drug Fosamax is used to increase bone density, but recent studies have indicated that it and other bisphosphonates may also cause Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ), a condition where the tissue of the jaw bone dies and is unable to repair itself.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has known for a long time that Fosamax can cause irritation of the esophagus. The FDA issued a MedWatch alert about that in 1996. In September 2004, the FDA and Novartis, the manufacturer of another bisphosphonate, issued warnings to health professionals for another more serious problem, that there is a potential for ONJ in patients treated with bisphosphonates in chemotherapy. In 2004, the FDA found 139 bisphosphonate-related ONJ cases, mostly associated with two drugs Aredia and Zometa, but 12 cases were related to Fosamax, identifying ONJ as a possible Fosamax side effect.
Suffered harm from Fosamax? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.
By October 28, 2005, 1,600 cases of bisphosphonate-related ONJ had been reported to the FDA. In January 2005, the FDA asked Merck to change the label for the drug to include a Fosamax warning about ONJ. Critics claim that the “label” in question is actually a 22-page document that is sent to pharmacies. The warning, which appears on page 13, gives no real warning to consumers.

Check out the following articles for more information about Fosamax, filing a Fosamax lawsuit and finding a Fosamax attorney.

For more information about Fosamax, see Drug Overview: Fosamax Side Effects and Claims
For more information about Fosamax side effects, see Fosamax Side Effects – Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)
For more information about Fosamax updates, see Fosamax Information and Warnings
If you would like to learn more about Fosamax lawsuits, see Fosamax Lawsuits, Litigation & Lawyers
To learn more about Fosamax attorneys and how to find one, see Hiring a Fosamax Attorney and Lawyer

Suffered harm from Fosamax? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.

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What is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

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What is the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) is federal law that prohibits creditors from certain forms of discrimination. Age (as long as you are old enough to enter into a legally binding contract), race, color, national origin, gender, marital status, religion, or receipt of public aid may not be used to:

Discourage or prevent you from applying for credit,
Refuse you credit which you otherwise qualify for,
Give you less credit, or credit on terms different from those who have similar credit risks (permissible risk factors include ability to pay, credit record, stability and assets owned)
Deny you credit because you exercised your rights under federal laws such as the Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, or the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

A lender is allowed to use a statistically sound scoring system that is derived from empirical data as long as being 62 years or older is not assigned a negative value in the scoring system.

Under ECOA, a creditor is required to notify you within 30 days after you have completed your credit application whether your application has been approved or denied. If credit is denied, the reasons for the declination must be provided or you must be told how to obtain such information.

Violation of ECOA may be redressed by filing a federal lawsuit for the actual damages you have suffered plus punitive damages of up to $10,000.

(Reviewed 10.31.2008)

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Fosamax: Did Merck Downplay the Drug’s Risks?

Fosamax Did Merckdownplay Dangers Defective Products

Fosamax: Did Merck Downplay the Drug’s Risks?

When you see an advertisement for a drug on television or in a magazine, it often claims that the drug is the next best thing since sliced bread – and often has a doctor’s recommendation attached to it. Unfortunately for consumers, those claims and recommendations are sometimes nothing more than marketing ploys. Pharmaceutical giant, Merck & Company, was accused of deceptive marketing practices in connection with its now defunct drug, Vioxx, and agreed to stop those practices as part of a recent settlement. Consumers now wonder whether the company also downplayed the risks associated with its osteoporosis drug Fosamax.
Deceptive marketing practices
After it was discovered that Merck was ghostwriting many of the statements used in marketing materials that should have come from doctors, it was banned from deceptive marketing practices as part of its Vioxx settlement. The pharmaceutical giant is finding itself in similar situations with other drugs such as Vytorin – its cholesterol drug that was supposed to be far better than others, but has been shown to be no better than generics.
Legal experts say that Merck may have also downplayed the risks of Fosamax (alendronate) as well – with big payoffs. According to a study published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004, Fosamax was the most commonly dispensed bisphosphonate in the U.S. from 2001-2004 and the total number of prescriptions written in 2004 topped 22 million. Unfortunately, it’s only now that additional information is being discovered about the drug’s dangerous side effects.
Fosamax lawsuits
Legal experts say that over 100 lawsuits have already been filed against Merck over Fosamax. The drug has been linked to a deterioration of the jaw bone known as osteonecrosis and required an additional warning to be placed on the label in 2005. It has also been linked to increased rates of irregular heartbeats, or atrial fibrillation, according to the New England Journal of Medicine.
If you’ve been injured due to Fosamax or any other drug, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of law to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and strictly confidential. To contact a qualified attorney, please click here. We may be able to help.

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Fosamax, Boniva & Actonel Linked To Jaw Bone Disorders

Fosamax Linked To Jaw Bone Disorders Drug Toxic Chemicals

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Fosamax, Boniva & Actonel Linked To Jaw Bone Disorders

Osteoporosis drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel are now being linked to osteonecrosis (bone death) in the jaw according to a new study by the University of Southern California’s School of Dentistry.
The study’s findings
According to a study by the University of Southern California’s School of Dentistry (USCD), osteoporosis (a bone disease that leads to an increased risk of fracture) drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva and Actonel that are prescribed to nearly 30 million Americans each year may be the cause of jaw bone death, or osteonecrosis. The drugs, also known as bisphoshonates, became part of a USCD study after patients taking the drugs started showing unusual jaw infections.
According to an article in Science Daily (www.sciencedaily.com) and the April issue of the Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery (www.joms.org/), the USCD looked at microbial biofilms (which relates to bacteria) in the bones of patients taking these drugs and found a correlation between the drugs and jaw bone disorders.
Bisphosphonate manufacturers
The following companies manufacturer bisphosphonates:
Fosamax – manufactured by Merck & Company.
Boniva – manufactured by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline and made popular due to its celebrity endorser, Sally Field
Actonel – manufactured by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals.
Skelid – manufactured by Sanofi Pharmaceuticals
Didronel – manufactured by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals
Reclast and Zometa – manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals
What is Osteonecrosis?
Osteonocrosis is bone death resulting from poor blood supply to an area of bone. Often known as jaw death, it is a condition that has been linked to patients on bisphosphonate therapy and may also result in pain, swelling, infection of soft tissue, drainage, loosening of teeth, exposed bone, numbness, and heaviness of the jaw. The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and pharmaceutical giant Novartis, warned dental professionals in 2004 about a possible link to osteonecrosis and bisphosphonates over Novartis’s drug Aredia which is no longer available to U.S. consumers.
Lawsuits continue to be filed
According to news reports, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of bisphosphonate drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva, and Actonel and many more are likely to be filed in the future.
If you or a loved one have taken any one of the drugs and have been diagnosed with osteonecrosis, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of the law to discuss your situation. Consultations are strictly confidential, free of charge and without obligation. To contact a qualified attorney, please click here. We may be able to help.

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Will the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act help me provide for my children?

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Will the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act help me provide for my children?

Money held in trust for someone else is not property of the estate. Let’s say you setup a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) “custodianship” in the form a bank account. Because you cannot revoke the custodianship, any money you deposit to the UTMA account is not your property. Your payments might nonetheless be found to be fraudulent transfers if they were made with an intention to hinder, delay or defraud your creditors or at a time when you were insolvent.

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What about family gifts?

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What about family gifts?

Small customary gifts to family members are not voidable preferences. “Small” means less than $200 in aggregate during the past year.

Example: you give your daughter an Aston Martin for her birthday. If it’s a real one worth $250,000, it’s avoidable as a fraudulent transfer. If it’s a Corgi toy costing $25, it’s not.

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My ex-spouse was ordered to pay some debts in our divorce. Can he avoid paying by declaring bankruptcy?

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My ex-spouse was ordered to pay some debts in our divorce. Can he avoid paying by declaring bankruptcy?

In some cases he can. It depends on whether the payment of the debt is characterized as support. Many divorce decrees specifically include payments of marital debts as support obligations to make it easier for the receiving spouse to prevent the paying spouse from discharging the debt. Even if yours does not, the bankruptcy judge can review the judgment to determine whether that is what was intended.

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Can I pay some debts outside of bankruptcy?

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Can I pay some debts outside of bankruptcy?

This is a tricky question. First, some payments that you make before you file might backfire. The trustee is permitted to set aside certain prepetition payments as preferences. When this happens the trustee often sends a letter to the creditor and asks for the money. If the creditor refuses to hand it over, the trustee can sue the creditor to recover it. This money becomes part of the bankruptcy estate and can be distributed to other creditors unless you have an exemption to cover it. Second, after you file your petition, you can pay whomever you like, but it seldom makes sense unless there is a bankruptcy reason to do so. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your plan may include some payments that are “outside” of the plan. This doesn’t technically mean that the payments are outside of the bankruptcy. What it means is that you will make the payments directly to the creditor instead of paying the money through the trustee. This arrangement makes sense, for example, in situations where the trustee is not timely in paying your mortgage and you want to pay it directly to the mortgage company to make sure you do not end up with late payment marks on your credit report. Another reason to pay a debt “outside” of the bankruptcy is that the debt arose after you filed. Chapter 13 bankruptcy imposes strict limits on new credit, but some debts, like medical bills, are unavoidable. These debts survive bankruptcy and you should pay them.

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