Congressional testimony about Heparin Problems

Congressional hearings were held yesterday regarding the recent problems with heparin which have caused severe allergic reactions for hundreds of people and killed at least 81. The committee heard testimony from FDA officials and executives from Baxter International, who sold heparin throughout the United States which was contaminated with a substitute ingredient. Emotional testimony was also received from family members of heparin victims.

>>INFORMATION: Baxter Heparin Recall

FDA officials testified that the agency’s working hypothesis is that the heparin problems were caused intentionally. The fake ingredient which contaminated the heparin is known as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, which costs only about $20 per kilogram compared with $2,000 per kilogram for real heparin. Some of the batches of the Baxter heparin tested were found to contain more than 30% of the contaminant.

Robert Parkinson, Baxter’s CEO, testified before the panel: “We deeply regret that this has happened, and I feel a strong sense of personal responsibility for these circumstances.”

The testimony offered by family members of Heparin victims provided real faces and real stories to highlight the impact of this dispicable intentional act and negligent failure on behalf of Baxter to identify that their product was contaminated.

Leroy Hubley lost both his wife and his son within one month of each other after they were each administered heparin during dialysis treatments. Some of his statements included:

• Now I am left to deal not only with the pain of losing my wife and son, but anger that an unsafe drug was permitted to be sold in this country.
• I want to know what is going to be done to rectify the matter. I want to know if my daughter, Dawn, and the millions of others who continue to receive dialysis are safe.
• The FDA and Baxter have not done their job. Somebody sure the hell didn’t.

His daughter-in-law, Colleen Hubley, who lost her husband, also testified. As a dialysis nurse, she spoke out about how a drug meant to save lives was carelessly contaminated by substandard materials:

• I watched my husband and my best friend slip away before my eyes.
• My husband was a fighter until the bitter end… I know that he would want me to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
• I thought that I (as a dialysis nurse) would be there to save my husband from any errors, but I guess I was naïve.
• I never thought the life saving medication we were relying on might be contaminated.
• Now, after learning that my husband was given contaminated heparin, I understand even more that everything in health care is vital. There should be no acceptable losses.

HEPARIN LAWSUITS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent clients throughout the United States who are pursuing Heparin lawsuits as a result of problems caused by the contaminated blood thinner. If you, a friend or family member have suffered a severe allergic reaction, hypothermia or death after receiving heparin, request a free claim evaluation.