When medications are prescribed to address medical problems or illnesses, Illinois residents are like other Americans and expect that the pharmaceuticals will address their issues without creating harm. Unfortunately, some drugs with serious side effects come onto the market and put the well-being of people at risk, sometimes even causing death.

This seems to be the case behind a recent wrongful death lawsuit filed against pharmaceutical giants Janssen Research and Development and Bayer Corp. The suit was filed by the niece of a woman who allegedly died after taking Xarelto, a blood-thinning drug. The woman contends the companies aggressively marketed the medicine without warning of its adverse side effects. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages because of unreasonable marketing, failure to warn, fraud and wrongful death.

According to the lawsuit, Xarelto — generic name Rivaroxaban — can cause fatal levels of bleeding even if taken for a short period. The lawsuit cited the dangers of Xarelto based on a 2012 online article about the hazards of blood thinners. According to a report by the Institute of Safe Medication Practices, hundreds of injuries were reported in cases where Rivaroxaban is the primary suspect drug.

Drugs can produce negative chemical reactions that lead to serious and disabling conditions and even death. Unfortunately, such injuries could be prevented if manufacturers adhered to the strictest safety standards when manufacturing and marketing their products.

A  Chicago products liability  attorney can help a victim’s family file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit against a manufacturer of an unsafe medication and seek compensation for the loss of a loved one, which can be both emotionally and financially painful. The emotional pain from the loss of a loved one is often magnified by costs associated with the death, including funeral and medical costs and lost wages.

Source:  Medical Daily, “ Blood Thinner Xarelto Blamed For Deaths And ‘Serious Injuries’ In Lawsuit ,” John Ericson, April 14, 2014

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