Attorney Fred Pritzker, the author of this post, is representing Traci (TM) and over 40 patients harmed in the national fungal meningitis outbreak. In the weeks since discovery of the massive fungal meningitis outbreak traced to the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts, much of the news has centered on the company’s long history of corporate malfeasance including its disregard of sterility tests, preparation of medication in unsanitary conditions and systematic violation of its pharmacy license. The company’s willful (and potentially criminal conduct) was abetted by regulatory inaction of such magnitude that some of the officials charged with overseeing the company have already been fired. As they always do, the lurid details and public ire will fade from memory as the … [Read more...]
Traci’s Story: The Human Cost of Corporate Greed and Government Malfeasance in the New England Compounding Center Drug Poisoning Outbreak
Fungal Meningitis Outbreak: Pharmacy Board Chief Fired, Case Count Mounts
The pharmacy board chief in Massachusetts, where tainted injectable steroids that have sickened 424 people in 19 states and caused 31 fatalities were produced, has been fired. James Coffey, director of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, did not act on a complaint that the New England Compounding Center (NECC) was functioning like a drug manufacturer. Compounding pharmacies generally custom-mix drugs for a specific geographic area. NECC, based in Framingham, Mass., prepared the steroid, preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate, for nationwide distribution. Compounding pharmacies are not regulated like drug manufacturers. So it wasn't until after the outbreak began that inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) looked inside the facility where … [Read more...]
NECC Methylprednisolone Acetate Linked to Meningitis Outbreak
The FDA has released a preliminary report of its investigation of the compounding pharmacy facility owned by New England Compounding Center (NECC), the company whose methylprednisolone acetate has been linked to over 300 cases of fungal meningitis and over 20 deaths. Last week, the FDA confirmed that it found a fungus that has sickened outbreak victims, Exserohilum rostratum, in vials of one of three lots of NECC methylprednisolone acetate implicated in the outbreak. As part of its investigation of the NECC facility, FDA obtained documents showing that since January of this year, NECC employees have documented findings of mold and bacteria in rooms that were supposed to be sterile environments, including the main “Clean Room”, the “Gown Room”, and the “Prep Room”. The FDA found “no … [Read more...]
Meningitis Lawsuit Seeking Class Action Status Filed against Epidural Steroid Maker NECC
A lawsuit was filed in a Minnesota federal court by a woman who received multiple epidural injections of a steroid product made by New England Compounding Center (NECC), a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. The NECC steroid product has now been recalled due to possible contamination with fungus, both Aspergillus and Exserohilum. The lawsuit seeks damages for the woman and the creation of a class action in Minnesota. This is the first of what will most likely be hundreds of lawsuits filed in the states where the potentially contaminated NECC steriod products were distributed: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, … [Read more...]
Epidural Steroid Meningitis Lawsuit: Case Count Grows, More Dead
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have updated their investigation into the fungal meningitis outbreak that has sickened people who had epidural steroid injections from drugs made by the New England Compounding Center (NECC) for back trouble and sciatica. Now 170 people are sick in 11 states, and 14 people have died. Attorney Fred Pritzker has filed and won many lawsuits in product liability cases. He has been contacted by some of the patients in this outbreak and has called on the officers of the New England Compounding Pharmacy, doing business as the NECC, to answer questions about its business practices. Pritzker said, "the company needs to take responsibility for these injuries and disclose information that will prevent further harm. We also need to know how the … [Read more...]
Meningitis Lawsuits against NECC Expected for Personal Injury and Wrongful Death in Tennessee, Michigan, Virginia and Other States
The number of personal injury and wrongful death cases associated with the fungal meningitis outbreak has grown to 137 CDC-confirmed cases of meningitis, 12 of them fatal. The legal community has taken notice. "This outbreak is a national tragedy that could have been prevented. Compounding pharmacies like New England Compounding Center, the maker of steroid injections associated with the outbreak, are operating with little or no effective oversight and regulations," said Fred Pritzker, an attorney who has been contacted by several patients wanting to know their legal rights. "I am hoping meningitis lawsuits filed on behalf of patients will send a message to the compounding pharmacy industry and Congress that action needs to be taken to prevent this from happening again." The states … [Read more...]
Wrongful Death: Eleven Patients Now Dead in MD, MI, TN, VA in Epidural Prednisone Meningitis Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have just released a new update in the epidural prednisone steroid injection fungal meningitis outbreak associated with the New England Compounding Center (NECC). Now eleven people have died: one in Maryland, three in Michigan, six in Tennessee, and one in Virginia. So far, 119 people are sick in ten states. Attorney Fred Pritzker is gathering evidence for wrongful death lawsuits against New England Compounding Center. "My experience with these kinds of cases is that patient safety was not the top priority. This company needs to be held accountable for the deaths and injuries caused by its product," said Pritzker, who recently won $3,000,000 for a family who lost a loved one to an infectious disease. The case count is as follows by state: … [Read more...]
21 Fungal Meningitis Cases and One Joint Infection in Michigan Linked to NECC Steroid Products
Michigan residents have been hit hard by the fungal meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid medications made by New England Compounding Center (NECC), a compounding pharmacy in Framingham, MA. The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is reporting the state currently has 21 cases of meningitis, including two deaths, associated with this outbreak, and one infection of a joint associated with this outbreak. Septic arthritis cases associated with NECC steroid products used for pain shots are rising. "My experience with these kinds of cases is that this kind of product contamination is the result of lapsed, inadequate or nonexistent safety procedures," said Attorney Fred Pritzker, who has been contacted by many patients who had the epidural steroid injections that are … [Read more...]
Epidural Meningitis Outbreak Cases Climb to 105 in 9 States, Tennessee, Virginia and Michigan Hardest Hit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis among patients who received an epidural injection containing steroid medication made by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. To date 105 people in 9 states are confirmed as part of the outbreak. The case count of the meningitis outbreak by state is as follows, according to the CDC: Florida (4), Indiana (11), Maryland (5 and 1 death), Michigan (21 and 2 deaths), Minnesota (3), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), Tennessee (35 with 4 deaths), and Virginia (23 with 1 death). Many of these people had strokes associated with the meningitis. Investigators have found fungus, Aspergillus … [Read more...]
NECC Steroid Products Associated with Meningitis Outbreak Sent to Pain Clinics in 23 States
A multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis has been associated with lumbar epidural steroid injections into the spinal fluid. The fungi involved in the steroid meningitis outbreak include Aspergillus, Exserohilum and possibly others. To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 105 cases of fungal meningitis in 9 states that are part of this outbreak. Eight people have died. Many of the meningitis victims also had strokes. According to the CDC, all of the meningitis patients had been injected with preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (80mg/ml) prepared by New England Compounding Center (NECC), a compounding pharmacy located in Framingham, MA. Attorney Fred Pritzker has been contacted by victims of this outbreak. "Patients who received … [Read more...]
