Firm alleges man died after being given recalled Heparin; suit seeks actual and punitive damages against Baxter.

(PRWEB) April 9, 2008 -- Parker Waichman Alonso LLP announces that it has filed suit in the death of an individual whom the firm alleges suffered an adverse reaction and died as a result of complications after being administered recalled Heparin.

Since November 2007, Baxter Heparin has been linked to serious and sometimes life-threatening reactions in some patients, including difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and rapidly falling blood pressure that can lead to life threatening shock The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey (Docket Number: #2:08-cv-1705).

Boris Doncov, a resident of Hoboken, New Jersey, was admitted to the hospital in February 2008 with pneumonia, and was subsequently diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. He was treated with Heparin supplied by Baxter International and Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and shortly thereafter experienced rapidly falling blood pressure.

Boris Doncov died several days later. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of Mr. Doncov’s estate, by his son Vladimir Doncov, alleges that negligent and wrongful acts on the part of Baxter International, Inc. and Baxter Healthcare Corporation caused Boris Doncov to suffer severe and permanent physical injuries and subsequent death.

Heparin is a blood-thinning drug used to treat, among other things, pulmonary embolism. Sales of Baxter Heparin constitute roughly 50% of the market share in the United States. As early as November 2007, there had been reports of adverse reactions to Baxter Heparin from 19 dialysis clinics in more than 12 states. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), there have been 350 reports of adverse reactions to Baxter Heparin since December 2007, including four fatalities, in contrast to 100 such reports the agency received in all of 2007.

In January 2008, Baxter International, Inc. and Baxter Healthcare Corporation announced a recall of 9 lots of Heparin Sodium 1000 unit/mL vials for injection. In February, the FDA warned healthcare practitioners not to use Baxter Heparin products, and on February 29, Baxter expanded the Heparin recall to include all of its Heparin products sold in the United States. Shortly after the Heparin recall, it was learned that, despite representations to the contrary, the Chinese facility from which Baxter obtained raw ingredients for Heparin had never been inspected by the FDA.

Since the Baxter Heparin recall, the FDA has confirmed that the active ingredient for Heparin that Baxter sourced from China had been replaced with a chemical called over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate, a substance derived from animal cartilage. The FDA said that the chondroitin sulfate had been molecularly altered to mimic the blood-clotting properties of Heparin.

Parker Waichman Alonso LLP has been retained by numerous individuals who have had adverse reactions after being administered Heparin and continues to investigate many other similar complaints.

If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury after being administered Heparin manufactured by Baxter International, Inc. and Baxter Healthcare Corporation, please contact our office by visiting www.yourlawyer.com. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

About Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Parker Waichman Alonso LLP is a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs nationwide. The firm has offices in Florida, New York and New Jersey. Parker Waichman Alonso LLP has assisted thousands of clients in receiving fair compensation for injuries resulting from defective drugs, tainted foods, and medical devices.

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