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Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit Names Heparin Manufacturer As Defendant

In Cook County, Illinois, the estate of Franke Leon Isom is suing Scientific Protein Laboratories and distributor Baxter International Inc. for wrongful death. Leon, 59, died on December 14, 2007 one day after he was administered Heparin at the Woodland Dialysis Clinic in Elizabethtown where he was undergoing kidney dialysis.

Isom was transported to Breckinridge Memorial Hospital after he began experiencing adverse symptoms. He was later pronounced dead. One month later, Baxter International issued a warning regarding potential adverse side effects.

The Illinois wrongful death lawsuit is one of over 50 similar lawsuits filed against Scientific Protein Laboratories, which manufacturers the anticoagulant. The complaint claims Isom was given Heparin that had been contaminated with over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS). The contamination occurred in China, where the drug was manufactured. The lawsuit contends that both Scientific Protein Laboratories and Baxter are liable for allowing the contaminated Heparin to arrive at the dialysis center and other medical facilities, where patients could be treated with the drug.

Heparin with OSCS
Heparin is used as a blood-thinner during both medical and minor procedures. The US Food And Drug Administration says that of the 246 reported deaths between January 2007 and May 31, 2008 that can be attributed to contaminated Heparin, 149 deaths were patients who exhibited adverse symptoms associated with OSCS. There have also been hundreds of patients who did not die from exposure to OSCS but say they experienced allergic reactions to it. Earlier this year, Baxter issued a recall for the contaminated Heparin ordering the drug to be removed from medical facilities.

Drug manufacturers can be held liable for products liability or wrongful death in Illinois if a drug is dangerous, defective, fails to warn of adverse reactions, or is packaged incorrectly. A dangerous drug can be fatal for a patient, who is taking the medication to get better.

While Baxter acknowledges responsibility for allowing the contaminated batches of Heparin to be distributed, a company spokesperson says it is not responsible for the contaminations that caused the deaths and allergic reactions.

Lawsuit: Heparin caused dialysis patient?s death, News-Enterprise

Drug company confirms Heparin was contaminated, News-Enterprise

Related Web Resources:

Scientific Protein Laboratories

Baxter Healthcare

Heparin, FDA

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on December 20, 2008 (boomark / email).