Heparin blood thinner caused man to lose his toes, claims lawsuit

Heparin blood thinner caused man to lose his toes, claims lawsuit
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) A recent report in the West Virginia Record details a lawsuit filed against Baxter Healthcare Corp. for damage caused by their blood thinning drug, heparin. After being prescribed the drug in 2007, James Bradley quickly developed severe bodily injuries that resulted in having to have his toes amputated. He and his wife Shirley are seeking compensation for his loss and the intense pain and suffering that he experienced from the drug.

Heparin is known to cause a severe blood platelet disorder called thrombocytopenia that can cause patients to develop gangrene. The Bradley case is one of many in which patients have had to undergo amputation due to heparin-induced disease and decay.

The Bradley case is alleging that Baxter and other drug companies that market heparin are doing so falsely. They believe it is clear that the drug is not safe and that it does not work. The suit is claiming that the drug is defectively designed and fraudulent in its purpose and the claims being made by its manufacturers and marketers.

In 2008, heparin was recalled for being contaminated with a counterfeit active ingredient that was causing serious allergic reactions and even death in some patients. Chinese manufacturers that produce the drug for Baxter were found to have been using a spurious active ingredient that injured and killed hundreds of people.

Hollywood actor Dennis Quaid and his wife almost lost their twin newborn babies when multiple doses of heparin were given them rather than a more diluted form of it called HepLock. Heparin and Heplock are commonly mixed up by medical professionals which has caused many injuries and fatalities.

Nearly all of the 450,000 Americans who are on dialysis use heparin. Its listed side effects are already highly severe and are known to be possibly fatal. However the rate of amputations and death directly caused by the drug is unacceptable and demands justice.

The list of personal injury cases and class action lawsuits being filed against Baxter and the other producers of heparin is growing as increasing numbers of injured people are seeking remediation for damage caused by the drug. As the primary manufacturer of heparin prescribed in the United States, Baxter will have a lot of explaining to do concerning their apparent negligence in disclosing the truth about the dangers of heparin.

Some natural blood thinners and clot prevention nutrients include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, ginseng, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM), and white willow bark. Some foods with blood thinning properties include ginger, garlic, and onions.

Sources for this story include: http://www.attorneyatlaw.com/2009/12/blood-thinner-heparin-cost-man-his-toes-lawsuit-says/

http://www.naturalnews.com/028230_heparin_side_effects.html