The U.S. Food and Drug Administration creates policies that regulate the manufacturing of medications to ensure patient safety. But many companies fail to adhere to these rules, resulting in innocent people being harmed.
One such case was the fungal meningitis outbreak of 2012 that claimed the lives of dozens of Tennesseans and left hundreds of others sickened.
A Boston-based company, the New England Compounding Center, was responsible for manufacturing tainted steroid injections. These injections were then distributed throughout the country, including Tennessee.
Soon after patients began receiving the injections, some became violently ill. Some of the symptoms included fever, nausea, vomiting, seizures, confusion, swelling of the brain and spinal cord, and even death. Further testing determined patients had been exposed to fungus, and it was traced back to the injections.
Many victims filed lawsuits against the maker of the tainted injections and the doctors who gave them. Now, according to an article from WKRN 2 News, a judge has approved a $200 million plan to compensate the victims. Officials say those entitled to the compensation can expect to begin receiving payments this year.
At Ponce Law, our Nashville personal injury lawyers are hopeful this settlement can bring closure to fungal meningitis outbreak victims and their families.