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Understanding drug recalls and why they are issued

On Behalf of | Sep 29, 2017 | Products Liability

At some point in time, Virginia residents are prescribed medications. Whether it is for a simple ailment or a serious disease, patients across the nation rely on these prescription medications to heal or treat them. However, mistakes can be made when prescription drugs enter the market, resulting in ineffective or dangerous products to land in the hands of consumers.

A drug recall could occur if it is discovered that issues regarding the safety of a medication come into question. Whether it is due to design, manufacturing or marketing errors or defects, a drug recall will likely be initiated. By recalling a drug, a prescription or over-the-counter medication can be removed from the market due to defects or potential harms.

A drug recall can be voluntary, which occurs when the makers of a drug discover a problem with the drug on their own. In other cases, the FDA will issue a recall after receiving reports of problems or harms from the general public. A drug could be recalled for various reasons, which could include circumstances where the drug is determined to be a health hazard, mislabeling occurs or the drug is poorly packaged, there is a contamination, the drug is not what is says it is or it is poorly manufactured.

Even when there is a drug recall, this does not mean a consumer will avoid harm from it. In some cases, a recall does not reach all consumers or the recall is not properly completed. Thus, it is still possible to suffer harm from a drug that has been recalled. Thus, those suffering because of a defective drug should understand their recourses. A products liability claim could help a consumer hold a negligent manufacturer accountable while also assisting with the recovery of compensation for losses and damages.

Source: Webmd.com, “What Is a Drug Recall?” accessed Sept. 24, 2017

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