Pharmaceutical Litigation

Many take pharmaceutical drugs to manage pain, treat disease, and maintain their health. Few, however, fully weigh the risks associated with prescription and non-prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs involving adverse reactions and side-effects. While pharmaceutical companies sometimes disclose some of these risks, in some instances, they elect not to disclose other known risks and adverse effects.

Examples of causes of injuries from consumption of pharmaceutical drugs include:

• Drug overdose
• Relying upon inadequate or misleading medicinal intake instructions
• Prescription errors
• Medical malpractice

Side-effects from pharmaceutical drugs range from minor side-effects such as headaches and dizziness to severe adverse reactions such as chronic pain, paralysis, heart attack, stroke, brain damage, cancer, and in some instances, death.

A consumer of pharmaceutical drugs may not realize the adverse reaction of their drug intake until months or even years after their initial consumption. As a consequence, pharmaceutical drugs that have been deemed safe for use after testing at one point in time, may not prove safe for use at another. Though pharmaceutical drugs are reviewed by Health Canada on a regular basis for the safety of use, consumers are not immune to their adverse health risks.

Class action lawsuits may be commenced against a pharmaceutical company that is responsible for causing one’s injury. Many victims elect to join these class action lawsuits at various stages of the litigation due to the delayed onset of their symptoms or their lack of awareness of their right to sue.

In addition, with respect to a prescription error, when a side effect of the wrong medication has caused a collision or accident, and injuries have resulted, you have the entitlement to seek damages and compensation for your losses and pain and suffering.