Even “natural” remedies can lead to injuries. If you’ve been hurt by a natural medication, a skilled California product liability lawyer can help.
With greater access to information through the internet, more people are turning to alternative medications as a way of dealing with illness of all sorts. While natural remedies can be helpful, they also have the potential to cause damage, particularly because — unlike pharmaceuticals — they are not regulated by the FDA.
Because natural remedies are not governed by the FDA, they have not been through the same rigorous trials required for prescription medications. This means that they may not do what they claim to do — or that their ingredients can actually cause harm.
Popularity and Danger of Natural Remedies
Approximately forty percent of Americans use supplements and natural remedies for weight loss, nutrition, muscle-building and more. They are used to help strengthen immune systems, get a better sleep, reduce anxiety or even ward off colds. In 2010 alone, Americans spent nearly 30 billion dollars on supplements.
But even if they are sold without a prescription, diet and health supplements can cause injuries. According to an analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine, diet pills, multivitamins, herbs, energy boosters and other supplements result in 23,000 hospital visits every year. They have the potential to cause serious injuries. Because these supplements are classified as foods rather than drugs, they are not regulated by the FDA. This means that there is even less oversight of supplements than of pharmaceuticals.
Recent investigations have shown that many supplements are inaccurately labeled, have hidden ingredients, or are deceptively advertised. Even supplements that are labeled “all natural” can cause harm. Some contain pharmaceutical ingredients with dangerous side effects, such as amphetamines. Others may not have pharmaceutical ingredients, but they can still cause injuries due to high dosages of the “natural” active ingredient. Weight loss supplements have been linked to hepatitis and a hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in the brain). Other supplements may cause heart attacks, kidney failure, liver damage, depression, strokes, or even death.
What to Do If You Are Harmed By A Natural Remedy
Manufacturers of natural remedies, supplements and diet pills are required to use care when they are producing and distributing their product. The manufacturers of these supplements could be held liable if the dosage is known to cause adverse health effects, or if it can be demonstrated that the supplement caused an injury. If the natural remedy was defective in some way — it was improperly made, the manufacturer did not adequately warn consumers of its dangers, or it had a defect in its design — you may have grounds for a products liability lawsuit. A California products liability attorney can help you assess whether or not you have a claim for damages due to an injury from a supplement.
If you have been injured by a pharmaceutical, over the counter drug or a diet or health supplement, you need a lawyer who is well-versed in products liability law. The Law Office of Larry H. Parker is knowledgeable about product liability litigation, and can help clients who have suffered adverse effects from any medication, regardless of whether it is prescription drug or not. Contact our office today at 800-333-0000 or info@larryhparker.com to schedule a free consultation about your products liability case. We never charge a fee unless we get money for you!
