Personal Injury Law

Doctor Explains the Importance of Darvon and Darvocet Trials

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

The Darvon and Darvocet recall continues to make headlines as experts weigh in on its impact around the world.

Lawyers and Settlements published a story this week in which one well known physician explained that the danger of the now-recalled drugs was very clear early on. The results of the delay in banning the drug have been catastrophic. Calls for the ban began decades ago, but nothing was done. Now the doctor explains, ?There could have been hundreds of thousands of deaths due to Darvon and Darvocet over the past 25 years.?

Medical researchers informed the FDA of their findings regarding the dangers of the drugs decades ago. However, the department was extremely slow in investigating the true risks of the medication?only pulling it from shelves this November.

Some experts believe that the trials related to Darvon and Darvocet will prove to be larger than many other mass medication cases. For example, Vioxx maker Merck provided a $4.85 billion settlement fund to be used to families of those injured by the painkiller?s effect on heat attacks.

The upcoming lawsuits will be of a similar magnitude.

One expert shared, ?I think the Darvon trials will become bigger than Vioxx because it has been going on for so long, but some people are just now realizing how catastrophic Darvon is.?

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on January 21, 2011 (boomark / email).