USA Today Post on Tylenol Overdeose Risks
From the USA Today, August 4, 2011:
Read the drug labels, avoid dangerous side effects
By Mary Brophy Marcus, USA TODAY
When Johnson & Johnson announced plans last week to lower the maximum dose for Extra Strength Tylenol, the news made some people rethink how often they take the drug and other over-the-counter medicines.
In an effort to reduce the risk of liver damage resulting from overuse of acetaminophen — the active ingredient in Tylenol — the drugmaker’s McNeil division will soon cap the product’s daily dose recommendation at 3,000 milligrams (a total of six 500-milligram pills a day) instead of the current 4,000 (eight pills a day).
Some experts say they also worry about overuse of other medications that consumers can purchase off pharmacy shelves without a prescription, such as the pain reliever ibuprofen, Theraflu for colds, and the antihistamine Benadryl.
HSM partner Clay Milling was recently voted to serve as Chairman of the Acetaminophen Litigation Group of the American Association of Justice in recognition of his exceptional knowledge regarding litigation and lawsuits involving acetaminophen, the risk of liver injury and death as a result of taking acetaminophen, as well as his general experience in the area. Clay’s hope is to bring awareness of the real facts regarding acetaminophen to as many individuals as possible — that acetaminophen is a very dangerous drug in terms of its toxic effects on the liver and that this fact has been known by the manufacturer of acetaminophen, but concealed from the public, for over a quarter century. Feel free to contact Clay directly with any questions you may have about Tylenol lawsuits, acetaminophen lawsuits, or any aspect of this important public issue.
ANNOUNCEMENT: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Plans for New Dosing Instructions for TYLENOL® Products
July 28, 2011: McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced today that it will lower the recommended dose of extra strength Tylenol and Regular Strength Tylenol. This is a substantial change for a product that for the last 30 years has marketed itself as: “the painkiller you can trust” and “the painkiller doctors prescribe most.” If these marketing statements were true, then why does the company feel now that it should lower the recommended dose?
The truth is, this change is part of what our Tylenol team has been fighting for over the last decade – an admission by the manufacturer of Tylenol that the product is in fact extremely dangerous and that too many people are dying and suffering liver damage as a result of acetaminophen poisoning. This change is important for consumers who have been injured by acetaminophen and they are advised to seek a knowledgeable attorney in this area. Henry Spiegel Milling is paving the way in this regard.
For more information on this announcement, click here.
Fred Thompson Voices His Opinion on Tort Reform
Although this article is from Tennessee and likely won’t have any affect on Tort Reform in Georgia, it’s always interesting to hear the opinions people in other states and with varying political views on the subject of Tort Reform. We are always interested in the opinions of those influential and active within the Tort Reform conversation.
Fred Thompson is an attorney and former U.S. senator who has joined the legislative team for the Tennessee Association for Justice. On Monday, January 31, 2011, he wrote on Op-Ed on Tort Reform for the Tennessean. It can also be read below:
FDA Limits Acetaminophen Amounts in Prescription Painkillers
On Thursday, January 14, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it is restricting the strength acetaminophen contained in Percocet, Vicodin and other popular prescription painkillers to prevent people from suffering severe liver damage.
The FDA called on drug manufacturers to limit the amount of acetaminophen in all prescription products that combine the drug with other medications to no more than 325 milligrams per tablet or capsule.
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2011!!
Henry Spiegel Milling would like to start by saying Happy New Year to everyone!!
2010 was a very exciting year at Henry Spiegel Milling. We confidentially settled multiple significant cases for our clients, and we also obtained a verdict of $3.5 million for the family of a young woman in North Georgia who attempted suicide after being inappropriately prescribed the drug Prozac.
In addition, our attorneys had another great year aside from their traditional case work. Phil Henry was named one of Georgia’s Top 10 attorneys for the fourth consecutive year; Harvey Spiegel chaired the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association’s “Constitutional Challenge Committee”, which assisted in overturning Georgia’s law capping damages in medical malpractice lawsuits; and Clay Milling received the 2010 Distinguished Service Award from the American Association for Justice.
HSM Recovers $3.5 million Prozac Verdict in Attempted Suicide Case
Feds hit with $3.5M Prozac verdict
Federally funded clinic at fault in wrongful death of teen who attempted suicide after being prescribed antidepressant
U.S. District Court Judge Clay D. Land has ordered the federal government to pay nearly $3.5 million to the mother of a 15-year-old girl who attempted suicide and eventually died after a nurse practitioner in a federally funded clinic improperly prescribed the antidepressant Prozac.
The judge’s Nov. 27 decision found in favor of plaintiff Romona L. Floyd, who filed the wrongful death action under the Federal Tort Claims Act as the surviving parent of Jessica Ann Ray.
Floyd’s attorneys—Philip C. Henry, Harvey R. Spiegel and Marla M. Eastwood of Henry Spiegel Milling—successfully argued her case before Land in a three-day bench trial last May.
Bernard Snell and William D. Gifford of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Macon represented the defendant. Gifford said he assisted Snell at trial, and Snell did not respond to requests for comment. Read more…
HSM is proud to announce that its partner Clay Milling was presented with the American Association for Justices Distinguished Service Award at this years AAJ annual convention in Vancouver, Canada. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond their commitment to the principles of the civil justice system and the mission of the American Associated for Justice. Over the last decade, Clay has been active in AAJ serving on its political action committee, membership committee, key persons committee, and now as a State Delegate to the organization from the State of Georgia. HSM is proud of Clay’s efforts fighting on behalf of the civil justice system and the firm is very pleased that Clay was recognized for his efforts with this national award.
Georgia Ban on Texting Starts Today
The Georgia ban on texting begins today, but it won’t be enforced for another month. In an effort to educate the public and to figure out how to actually enforce a violation of this nature.
This is a giant step towards driver safety in Georgia, although working out the kinks of how to enforce it may take some time. Hopefully, the law being made will encourage at least some people to begin to follow it regardless of how it’s enforced. The Illinois-based National Safety Council estimates that 28 percent of crashes — or 1.6 million annually — are caused by drivers talking or texting on cell phones.
Drivers found guilty of violating the laws on texting or talking while driving face a $150 fine and a point added to their driver’s license. This law comes into effect over the busy Fourth of July Holiday weekend. Hopefully it will provide troopers some additional training in observing.
More Benadryl, Tylenol Added to Recall
The maker of Benadryl and Tylenol has added five lots of the popular over-the-counter drugs to its growing list of recalled products.
If you or a loved one has been affected by any of these drugs on recall, please contact HSM to ensure protection of your legal rights.
