Florida Valsartan Attorney
Health care providers prescribe valsartan for high blood pressure and related conditions, and it can have beneficial effects for patients who have suffered a heart attack. However, manufacturers of the drug have recently come under fire from government officials because of a contaminant that was discovered in trace amounts. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of several pharmaceutical products which contained N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a probable cancer-causing substance. Many patients who took valsartan are now pursuing manufacturers for compensation after developing cancer or suffering other harm.
You may also qualify to take legal action if you contracted a medical condition due to taking NDMA-contaminated valsartan. Since the relevant laws can be extremely complex, it is wise to trust your matter to our experienced team at Halpern Santos & Pinkert, P.A. Please contact us right away to set up a no-cost consultation with a Florida valsartan attorney. A summary of the basic legal concepts may also be informative.
Legal Action Regarding NDMA Contamination in Valsartan
The underlying legal theory behind valsartan cases is product liability, specifically that the contamination by NDMA made the drug unreasonably dangerous for patients. Many suits also allege that various manufacturers concealed the presence of the carcinogen until after the product was recalled in 2018.
Valsartan is a generic medication, so there are complications due to the potential for pursuing multiple parties that had a hand in bringing the drug to patients. Besides the manufacturer, any company in the supply chain could be liable for the NDMA contamination, including:
- Shippers;
- Warehousing and storage companies;
- Distributors; and,
- Repackaging vendors.
Monetary Damages for Qualifying Claimants
Many forms of compensation are available in products liability cases based upon dangerous drugs, including the medical costs for cancer treatment, and pain and suffering. If a patient died because of a cancer related to consuming NDMA-contaminated valsartan, surviving family members may also have legal options through a wrongful death action.
However, not all individuals are eligible to bring a valsartan-related lawsuit. Our lawyers at Halpern Santos & Pinkert, P.A. can explain the qualification criteria in more detail, such as:
- Claimants must have suffered cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and/or associated digestive organs commonly linked to NDMA contamination, such as stomach, rectum, liver, pancreas, or colon cancer.
- In most cases, you must have started taking valsartan at least one year before being diagnosed with cancer.
- You must have been taking valsartan for at least 30 days at a stretch, at some point between 2014 and today.
- You may still qualify if you were taking valsartan in combination with other medications, either through a prescription or over-the-counter.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Florida Valsartan Attorney
While this overview about valsartan litigation may be useful, it should also demonstrate the reasons why retaining skilled legal counsel is essential. For more information on your rights and remedies, please contact Halpern Santos & Pinkert, P.A. at 305-445-1111 or via our website. We can set up a no-cost consultation at our offices in Coral Gables, FL.
