SAFETYLEX

LEGAL NEWS: LAWSUIT BY LINDANE MANUFACTURER SEEKS TO QUIET SAFETY ADVOCATES

Metro Times journalist Curt Guyette reports that Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals Inc. is suing the Ecology Center in federal court.  (See news article here). The Ecology Center is a nonprofit environmental organization located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The Center apparently drew the attention of the pharmaceutical company when the Center advocated for the passage of state legislation that would phase out the use of lindane in Michigan.  (See bill here).  The Center notes that:

The EPA says lindane "is recognized internationally as one of the most toxic, persistent, bioaccumulative pesticides ever registered."

The chemical continues to be manufactured by Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals for use in products used to treat people, including children, for head lice and scabies.  The Center questions why the chemical continues to be manufactured for such uses when lindane has been banned from use in agriculture, on pets, within the military, and is banned from all uses in 52 countries and the state of California.  (See Ecology Center press release here). 

Information on the Pesticide Action Network's international campaign to ban the use the lindane can be found here.

SAFETY NEWS: MEDICAL ERRORS WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - SENIORS & PATIENTS ON ANTI-DEPRESSANTS AT HIGHER RISK

Medco, a pharmacy benefits manager company, reports that senior patients are exposed to higher rates of doctor and physician error.  Associated Press reporter Jeffrey Gold notes that “[m]istakes with prescription drugs are a leading cause of death or injury in the United States” and that the report finds patients over 65 years of age “had a drug error rate nearly seven times greater than those under 65.”  See full article here.

 

Last month, the results of a study published in the American Journal of Managed Care noted that “although the risk of suicidality in children and adolescents has been the primary focus of public and regulatory attention, the FDA has also begun to address the possibility of an increased risk of suicidality in adult users of antidepressants.”  Despite FDA warnings recommending “close monitoring’ … for signs of clinical worsening or suicidality” for patients undertaking a new course of therapy, the study found that “[o]nly 14.9% of patients received the Food and Drug Administration-recommended level of follow-up care during the first 4 weeks, 18.1% at 8 weeks, and 22.6% at 12 weeks.”  See full article here.