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Victory for Big Pharma: Texas Adopts “Learned Intermediary” Rule

Big Pharma had a major victory on June 8th, when the Texas Supreme Court handed down its ruling in Centocor, Inc. v. Hamilton.  The Court held that “When a drug manufacturer properly warns a prescribing physician of the dangerous propensities of its product, the manufacturer is excused from warning each…

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Injured by a Doctor? You’ll likely deal with the secretive Medical Board instead of open court

Fox 4 in Dallas did a great story on the Texas Medical Board and their contribution to physician discipline since tort reform in 2003.  According to the report serious disciplinary actions are down and the time taken to conduct investigations has risen.  Further, Doctor confidentiality and secrecy is maintained until…

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Tort Reform has not Increased the Number of Doctors in Texas

Anew study by David A. Hyman, Charles Silver, and Bernard Black shows that Texas Tort Reform measures have not increased the number of doctors in Texas since 2003. “Does state tort reform affect physician supply? Tort reformers certainly believe so. Before Texas adopted tort reform in 2003, proponents claimed that…

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All-Metal Hip Implants Prone to Early Failure, Need to be Removed

Great story by NPR on the continuing problems faced by patients who have received All-Metal Hip Implants. Implants Need To Be Removed Early by Richard Knox EnlargeRichard Knox/NPRYoung-min Kwon of Massachusetts General Hospital holds the metal-alloy ball of Susy Mansfield’s faulty artificial hip joint. The yellowish tissue on top is…

Hip Implant Complaints Increase, While Dangers Are Reviewed
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Hip Implant Complaints Increase, While Dangers Are Reviewed

By BARRY MEIER and JANET ROBERTS of the New York Times Published: August 22, 2011 The federal government has received a surge in complaints in recent months about failed hip replacements, suggesting that serious problems persist with some types of artificial hips even as researchers scramble to evaluate the health…

FDA Reports Cancer Risk from Osteoporosis Drugs

FDA Reports Cancer Risk from Osteoporosis Drugs

An FDA Safety Alert issued today warns that taking oral osteoporosis drugs (“bisphosphonates”) may cause an increased risk of esophageal cancer.  This category of drugs includes Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, Atelvia, Didronel, and Skelid. Esophageal cancer and other esophageal problems have been reported in connection with use of the drugs, and…