Compounded Drugs From Tennessee Pharmacy Infect 13 In Florida
The pharmaceutical injury attorneys at Farah & Farah in Jacksonville recently revealed that a Tennessee-based compounding pharmacy agreed to recall all of the “sterile” pain-killing steroids it had manufactured due to contamination. The drugs were recalled after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received reports that a total of seven patients in Illinois and North Carolina may have contracted infections due to the injections.
According to Health News Florida, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has reported that the recalled drugs may also be responsible for at least 13 infections in Florida patients as well.
DOH has identified three clinics and one physician in Florida that received the allegedly contaminated drugs. They are: Southern Healthcare Rural Health Clinic in Bonify, The Back Center of Melbourne, Family Health Care of Chipley and Dr. Parvesh Bansal, whose practice is in Melbourne.
All of the Florida patients developed skin infections near the spot where the shots were administered. In a press release, DOH stated that the infections do not appear to be life threatening.
Health News Florida reports that Main Street Family Pharmacy of Newbern, Tenn. was cited for safety violations by Tennessee health authorities in 2011 and 2012. The pharmacy was fined and placed on probation. However it was not shut down and apparently other states the pharmacy did business with were not informed about the disciplinary action.
Congress and the FDA have been wrestling with how to address the lack of federal oversight over compounding pharmacies. Currently, pharmacies that mix custom drugs for customers are regulated by state agencies with wildly varying standards. Those state agencies rarely share information about disciplinary actions with other states.
One-third of high-risk compounders licensed to do business in Florida are based in other states, according to Health News Florida.
If you believe you have been harmed by a contaminated drug, it is essential that you seek the knowledgeable and experienced legal representation the law firm of Farah & Farah provides. Call us today at (800) 533-3555 or contact us online. Let’s discuss your case and what your legal options might be.
