When drug manufacturers fail to ensure their drugs are safe, they may face criminal and civil penalties. This may be the case for the New England Compounding Center (NECC)—the Massachusetts compounding facility responsible for contaminated steroid injections that led to a Tennessee meningitis outbreak.
A total of 751 people were sickened and another 64 died as the result of drug contamination, with 169 of those combined illnesses and deaths from Tennessee. The outbreak led to a voluntary recall of the product and a fund to reimburse the victims for damages, but now the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has began interviewing victims and their loved ones to determine if criminal charges should be brought against NECC.
The Tennessean explains that while criminal prosecution could be months—even years—away, many of the victims have already filed civil lawsuits against NECC. Meanwhile, NECC has filed for bankruptcy to alleviate their debts.
At Ponce Law, our team of Nashville personal injury attorneys are aware of the devastation the Tennessee meningitis outbreak caused and hope a resolution will help bring closure to victims and their families.