Baltimore, Maryland
The Yost Legal Group in Baltimore, Maryland is a multi – service personal injury law firm focusing on serious personal injury and wrongful death cases.
March 22nd, 2012
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and a number of other over-the-counter and prescription drugs. It is among the most common drugs found in households across the United States, and is safely and effectively used by millions of people every year.
While acetaminophen is generally considered safe when used as directed, acetaminophen poisonings, particularly for children and the elderly, are all too common. The primary issue related to acetaminophen poisoning is liver damage. Even when used correctly, liver damage can occur – making acetaminophen a common cause for defective drug lawsuits.
The FDA has, on several occasions, pushed for stronger warnings on products containing acetaminophen. According to the FDA, over 800 instances of liver damage from acetaminophen occur every year in the United States. Sadly, many of these cases are fatal.
Due to FDA concerns over liver damage, prescription painkillers such asVicodin, Percocet, Tylenol with Codeine, and Oxycodone contain only 325mg of acetaminophen. Finding this insufficient to treat pain, some people mix these prescriptions with other products containing acetaminophen, heightening their risk for poisoning. In most cases, these patients have not been warned of the dangers of this product by health care professionals, and the warnings on the prescriptions themselves are often inadequate.
If you or a loved one has suffered from acetaminophen poisoning, you may be entitled to compensation. The Baltimore pharmaceutical injury lawyers at the Yost Legal Group have the skills and experience to battle the high powered legal teams employed by drug manufacturers, and we will fight aggressively to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
Please contact the Baltimore, Maryland defective drug attorneys at the Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Posted in Defective Products | Comments Off
March 21st, 2012
Paxil, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin are popular drugs prescribed to alleviate conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. They are part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, when these drugs are taken by pregnant women, they can cause an increased risk of several serious birth defects such as:
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN)
- Heart defects
PPHN is an extremely dangerous and rare condition that prevents oxygen from properly flowing through the lungs and heart. The resulting oxygen deprivation can cause serious symptoms, and the condition is fatal in approximately 10-20% of all cases. A 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that women taking SSRI drugs during their third trimester have a six times greater risk of their baby developing PPHN.
The most common heart defects associated with Paxil, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin are atrial and ventricular septal defects. These defects cause holes in the wall separating the left and right sides of a baby’s heart. In 2005, the FDA issued a public warning for Paxil after several studies found that mothers taking the drug during their first trimester experienced a 1-2 times greater risk of heart defects. A 2008 study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reaffirmed these initial reports.
If your baby was born with one of these serious birth defects and you believe it may have been caused by your taking an SSRI drug, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. The pharmaceutical injury lawyers at The Yost Legal Group have helped many drug injury victims hold negligent pharmaceutical companies liable for their actions. We will review your case and if we believe your baby’s birth defect was in fact caused by one of these dangerous drugs, we will fight aggressively to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Please contact our pharmaceutical injury lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation. The Yost Legal Group serves clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Birth Defect | Comments Off
February 16th, 2012
Osteoporosis is a disease in which your bones lose mass, strength, and density. The result can be bone fractures, particularly in weight bearing joints like hips, ankles, and knees. There is no cure for osteoporosis, which is why doctors recommend prevention as opposed to treatment. Some osteoporosis drugs are known as bisphosphonates. These include:
• Actonel – Procter & Gamble
• Aredia – Novartis
• Boniva – Roche
• Didronel – Procter & Gamble
• Fosamax – Merck
• Reclast – Novartis
• Skelid – Sanofi-Aventis
• Zometa – Novartis
Bisphosphonates are used to slow the progression of the disease. One of the most popular bisphosphonates is Fosamax.
Fosamax was introduced to the public in 1995. Since then, it has become Merck’s second bestselling drug. Fosamax is intended to prevent osteoporosis, and thereby reduce the risk of fractures in weight-bearing joints. But in the 16 years since Fosamax has been on the market, medical and scientific published studies have borne out that long-term use of Fosamax can increase the risk of transverse femur fractures or atypical femur fractions. The femur is the biggest bone in the thigh of your leg. The medical community is questioning the benefit of using Fosamax after a period of more than four or five years.
Fosamax initially has a beneficial effect in reducing the risk of osteoporosis and the resulting fractures in weaker bones by decreasing the bone breakdown. Our bodies are constantly in a cycle of breaking down our bones by osteoclasts and rebuilding the same bones by osteoblasts. This process continuously renews our bones’ quality and durability. Fosamax and other bisphosphonates work by decreasing the bone breakdown. This has a result of making the bone more dense, but also causes bone mineralization and brittleness. Small cracks develop in bones that are highly mineralized. If the process of bone regeneration is stopped, small crack ultimately develop into stress fractures and eventually complete fractures.
Although Fosamax was originally approved for marketing in the United States to treat osteoporosis, Merck had a responsibility of post-market surveillance. Drugs are usually approved after a limited number of people are tested with those drugs to see if they are generally safe and generally work and are effective in the treatment of a medical condition for a period of time. Once the drug is on the market for an extended period of time, long-term benefits and risks of a drug become apparent to its manufacturer. Manufacturers are notified by doctors, their patients, and sometimes by reports directly to the FDA about adverse outcomes of people taking their drugs. Several studies have been published in the scientific and medical literature that have shown an increased risk of femur fracture in people taking Fosamax and other bisphosphonates after five years when compared to people who do not take bisphosphonates.
If you or a loved one has suffered a transverse femur fracture or atypical femur fracture after prolonged bisphosphonate or Fosamax use, contact one of the experienced defective drug attorneys at the Yost Legal Group for a free initial consultation.
Posted in Osteoporosis | Comments Off
January 6th, 2012
Fosamax is a bisphosphonate drug manufactured by Merck. Fosamax was approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Fosamax was offered as a medication that would increase bone mass in both men and women with osteoporosis. Fosamax has also been promoted for healthy people as a means to prevent osteoporosis from advancing or developing. As the drug’s popularity has risen, its side effects have become much more apparent.
The use of Fosamax and other drugs in the bisphosphonate family (Actonel – Procter & Gamble, Aredia – Novartis, Boniva – Roche, Didronel – Procter & Gamble, Reclast – Novartis, Skelid – Sanofi-Aventis, Zometa – Novartis) have shown a reduction in fractures for the first three years in women who had osteoporosis. However, studies have revealed that the prolonged use of bisphosphonates, including Fosamax, for more than three years may actually have the opposite effect and make the bones more brittle. Studies seem to show that use of Fosamax for greater than four years is counterproductive in terms of stopping factures. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2011 found that use of bisphosphonate therapy for greater than five years increased the risk of transverse femur fractures by 2.74 times. That is an 175 percent increase. A New England Journal 2008 study also found an increased risk of fracture with longer term use of bisphosphonates. Therefore, the scientific literature questions whether the risks of taking bisphosphonates after four to five years outweigh the benefits. If you have taken bisphosphonates such as Fosamax for an extended period of time, please consult with your treating physician.
Oftentimes, Fosamax injuries manifest as pain in the thigh. They are often diagnosed as a stress fracture by x-ray. If you have been using bisphosphonates for a number of years and have thigh pain, you should go to your doctor and request an x-ray. If you have a stress fracture in your thigh, you should be referred to an orthopedist and may need a metal rod implanted. Frequently, persons with Fosamax-related transverse femur fractures require operations on the second thigh.
If you or a loved one has been using Fosamax or other bisphosphonate drug for more than four years and have been diagnosed with a stress fracture or with a transverse femur fracture or a typical femur fracture, contact the defective drug attorneys at the Yost Legal Group. We are experienced attorneys in representing people harmed by dangerous drugs. We will help you to hold the drug manufacturers liable for the damage they have caused. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Posted in Fosamax | Comments Off
December 29th, 2011
Erb’s palsy is a birth injury occurring when your child’s brachial plexus nerves become damaged during birth. These nerves surround the shoulder and control the shoulder, arm, and hand on that side of the body. This is a serious birth injury which can cause lifelong disability for your child.
The symptoms of Erb’s palsy may vary based on the extent of the nerve damage. In mild cases, your child may make a full recovery. However, in most cases, your child may suffer permanent nerve damage limiting the use of the arm, shoulder, and hand.
Common Erb’s palsy symptoms include:
- Limp or paralyzed arm
- Lack of muscle control in the arm, hand, or wrist
- Lack of sensation in the arm or hand
Sadly, many cases of Erb’s palsy are preventable. When medical errors during the birth process are responsible for your child’s birth injury, you may be entitled to receive compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at the Yost Legal Group have been fighting for the rights of birth injury victims for more than 20 years. We understand that you and your family are facing difficult times, and we will aggressively pursue the compensation necessary to help your child receive the treatment he or she deserves.
Please contact the Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Erb's Palsy | No Comments »
December 27th, 2011
If your child suffered a birth injury resulting in Erb’s palsy, it is crucial that the condition be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Receiving treatment during the first few years of your child’s life can significantly impact the ability to reduce the severity of your child’s disability. Make sure your seek treatment from a doctor who specializes in brachial plexus injuries.
Your child’s Erb’s palsy treatment might include:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Nerve grafts
- Surgery
Physical therapy and occupational therapy will work to improve the mobility of your child’s muscles and joints in the arm and hand damaged by the birth injury. This may include range of motion exercises intended to improve flexibility in the joints. In order to achieve the best results with this treatment, you will need to work with your child on a daily basis to make sure the prescribed exercises are performed properly.
Nerve grafts and nerve surgery may also be performed to improve your child’s arm function. For this procedure to be successful, it is best to have it done before your child turns one.
Unfortunately, Erb’s palsy treatment is often very expensive. You may incur substantial medical costs as well as long term rehabilitation to minimize the life-long limitations that accompany this condition.
If your child’s Erb’s palsy was the result of medical malpractice, the Baltimore birth injury lawyers at the Yost Legal Group can help you receive the compensation necessary to provide your child with the medical care he or she deserves. Our lawyers have extensive experience handling these complex claims, and we can accurately estimate the long term costs of treatment so that your settlement is adequate to help your child through this difficult, life-altering injury.
Please contact the Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Erb's Palsy | No Comments »
December 22nd, 2011
It is important to understand the difference between birth injuries and birth defects. Depending on the nature of the issue affecting your child, you may or may not be eligible to file a claim seeking compensation for your damages.
Birth defects, also called congenital defects, are conditions that develop prior to birth during the prenatal phase. They can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Genetics
- Environmental toxins
- Infection
- Abnormalities in the mother’s womb
- Abnormal development while in the womb
- Adverse reactions to drugs taken during pregnancy
In general, most birth defects are not preventable and therefore you usually won’t be able to receive compensation for your child’s injury. However, there are certain exceptions. If your child’s birth defect was caused by an adverse reaction to a drug taken by the mother during pregnancy, you may be entitled to receive compensation from the drug manufacturer in a pharmaceutical injurylawsuit. A common example of a drug that increases your child’s risk of a birth defect is Topamax, a popular epilepsy drug which often results in oral cleft injuries for the baby.
Birth injuries ariseduring labor and delivery. They often occur when a there is a problem during the birth process. If this problem was due to the doctor’s negligence, you may be entitled to receive compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at the Yost Legal Group have been helping the victims of birth injuries for more than 20 years, and we have extensive experience handling these complex claims. We will thoroughly review the details of your case to determine whether negligence played a role in your child’s injury. If so, we will fight aggressively to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
Please contact the Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Birth Defect | No Comments »
December 19th, 2011
Cerebral palsy is a birth injury affecting thousands of babies every year. It occurs when the baby’s brain does not receive a proper supply of oxygen during delivery and the baby suffers anoxic brain injury. Children suffering from cerebral palsy experience developmental issues associated with movement, muscle tone, and posture.
You can generally start spotting the warning signs that your child has cerebral palsy during the first three years of life. One of the most common symptoms is a delay in the development of certain motor skills such as crawling, sitting up alone, smiling, or walking. Other symptoms include:
- Muscle tone issues – either muscles that are too rigid or too floppy
- Lack of muscle coordination
- Tremors or involuntary movements
- Favoring one side of the body
- Difficulty walking
- Excessive drooling
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Delays in speech development
- Posture issues
In many cases, cerebral palsy is caused by medical malpractice. Common medical errors which lead to this serious birth injury include:
- Keeping the baby in the birth canal too long
- Excessive use of vacuum extraction
- Improper use of forceps
- Failure to recognize signs of fetal distress
- Failure to order a timely Caesarean section
- Failure to act on dangerous fetal heart rate fluctuations
- Improperly administered medications
- Failure to properly monitor newborns
The experienced medical malpractice lawyers at the Yost Legal Group have been fighting for the rights of victims of birth injuries for more than 20 years. We have seen firsthand the devastation caused by these tragic events, and we will work tirelessly to help you hold the negligent healthcare professional accountable for your child’s damages.
Please contactthe Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Cerebral Palsy | No Comments »
December 16th, 2011
Erb’s palsy is a condition occurring when the brachial plexus network of nerves which control the shoulder, arm, and hand become damaged during birth. This birth injury is often caused by the baby’s shoulder becoming wedged behind the mother’s pubic bone as it exits the birth canal, a condition called shoulder dystocia. Approximately 5,000 children develop Erb’s palsy every year.
Sadly, these children experience significant challenges throughout life as a result of this injury. Erb’s palsy can cause paralysis of the hand, arm, and shoulder controlled by the damaged nerves. This can lead to the following symptoms:
- Lack of muscle control and/or loss of feeling in arms or hands
- Ability to move the arm, but minimal control over the wrist and hand
- Functional use of the hand, but not the shoulder or elbow
In many cases, Erb’s palsy is the result of medical negligence. Your doctor has a responsibility to identify potential risk factors of shoulder dystocia and adjust the delivery process accordingly. When a doctor fails to identify these risk factors or take the appropriate measures after detecting them, it constitutes medical malpractice.
If you believe your child’s Erb’s palsy was caused by medical malpractice, the attorneys at the Yost Legal Group can help you hold the negligent parties accountable. We will fight aggressively to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Please contactthe Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Erb's Palsy | No Comments »
December 12th, 2011
Shoulder dystocia is a birth injury occurring when a baby’s shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone during labor. If not properly handled, it can result in complications such as Erb’s palsy, a condition marked by damage to the brachial plexus nerves which control the shoulder, arm, and hand; diaphragm paralysis, marked by damage to the phrenic nerve; clavicle fracture; or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (“HIE”).
There are several risk factors which may indicate an increased risk of shoulder dystocia during birth. These include:
- Gestational diabetes
- Maternal obesity
- Excessive weight gain during pregnancy
- Baby weight greater than 9 pounds at birth
- Post term pregnancy
- Protracted/prolonged labor
Your doctor has a responsibility to evaluate these risk factors and act appropriately if any of them are present. In most cases, shoulder dystocia can easily be avoided by performing a Caesarean section. If your doctor fails to properly identify these risk factors or take the appropriate precautions when they are present, it constitutes medical malpractice and you may be entitled to receive compensation for your child’s injuries.
The Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers at the Yost Legal Group have been fighting for the rights of birth injury victims for more than 20 years. We will provide you with aggressive representation in order to ensure that the negligent healthcare professionals are held accountable for your child’s damages.
Please contactthe Yost Legal Group today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients in Baltimore, Maryland.
Posted in Dystocia | No Comments »
