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Granuflo Lawsuit Lawyer - Facts, Issues & Help

Dialysis Deaths from Fresenius Granuflo Product

Levin Papantonio attorney interviewed by LAW360 about a breaking product liability scenario regarding Fresenius, the manufacturer of the dialysis agent GranuFlo.  Apparently, the FDA was “leaked” an internal memo where Fresenius executives concluded that dialysis patients had a 6x higher likely hood of death by cardiopulmonary arrest if they were using GranuFlo, as compared to other dialysis agents.

Lawyers say patients are concerned about complications and side effects of the GranuFlo product, and we may see personal lawsuits and class action lawsuits involving Granuflo related deaths.  Fresenius sells about $100mm/year of the Granuflo product for use by kidney dialysis patients. According to public information,  the company is well-financed, with a market capitalization of $20B.

More Than Granuflo

In recent months, the German pharmaceutical firm Fresenius has been taken to task over its dialysis drug, Granuflo, over allegations that the drug has caused patients to suffer heart attacks.

Granuflo - What's The Problem?

As lawsuits pile up against Fresenius N.A., the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the dialysis drug GranuFlo – implicated in the deaths of hundreds of patients – it's worth taking a look at exactly what is allegedly killing them.

Granuflo - Who's Responsible?

If a family member is a patient at a treatment center and the staff administers a medication that causes severe injury or death, who is liable? The facility that purchased the medication? The staff member who administered it? Or perhaps, the company that manufactured it in the first place? 

GranuFlo and Fresenius - An Anniversary Marked By Tragedy

It was just over a year ago (June 27, 2012, to be exact) that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its Class I Recall Notice for Fresenius' NaturaLyte and GranuFlo Acid Concentrates, which can dangerously raise patients' blood pH levels (somewhat like injecting baking soda into the bloodstream). The result can be metabolic alkalosis, which can cause cardiovascular complications resulting in spontaneous cardiac arrest. 

While Fresenius Pats Itself On The Back

On June 17th, several media sources announced that Fresenius Medical Care North America had recognized one of its dialysis centers – located in the Southwestern Washington town of Walla Walla – for achieving high standards in patient care in 2012.” The  Center for Excellence Designation is given out by the company once every year to a particular Fresenius facility that has demonstrated a superior level of patient care.

What They're Saying In Germany

Founded in 1871; before which it was a loose confederation of duchies and principalities – the modern nation of Germany was the first to guarantee all its citizens the right to low-cost or free medical care. This has been a constant from the time the country was an empire ruled by the Kaiser, during the Weimar period, under Hitler and the Nazis, and in the decades following the Second World War as Germany transitioned into a modern, progressive democracy. Regardless of what form their government has taken, no German citizen has ever had to fear bankruptcy from medical bills or death from an inability to pay for treatment. German citizens today have the option of purchasing private insurance if they wish, but even those private insurers are forbidden by law to make a profit on basic medical services (they are allowed to profit from coverage for elective procedures, such as cosmetic surgeries and treatments).

Bad Drugs And The Evolution of Innovator Liability

Perhaps no one better defined the need for justice in a civil society than the preeminent Judge Learned Hand when he said: “If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment: Thou shalt not ration justice.

Granuflo and Naturalyte - Lest We Forget

"The evil men do lives after them...the good is oft interred with their bones." William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar, Act 3 Scene II

This is an unfortunate fact of life for most of us natural humans. We may do great and wonderful things for others that are soon forgotten – but society hangs our mistakes around our necks like mill stones for the rest of our lives.  This raises a question: how come this doesn't hold true for “corporate” people? Why are their mistakes and crimes so quickly forgotten?

Granuflo - Yes, They Do Have a Case

NEWS ARTICLE – NY TIMES

Dialysis Company’s Failure to Warn of Product Risk Draws Inquiry

 
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