No one can argue against the tremendous benefits advances in modern medicine have bestowed on the population and new and life-saving breakthroughs continue to happen regularly. The average person believes that all new medicines and treatments have been properly studied and tested for safety and effectiveness, but economic pressures and market competition can frequently cause medical manufacturers to rush their product to market. In some instances there are no dire consequences but there is no guarantee that serious injury or death will not occur to some or many who take the new product for treatment. This type of injury falls under product liability law.

Many go through life depending on the approval an advice of doctors, medical professionals and the FDA and neglect embarking on their own research about prescriptions or medical devices. The FDA is responsible for testing or evaluating studies about prescription drugs or medical treatments before they are allowed for use by the general public. Any product with FDA approval is assumed to be safe but our government is not perfect and medical lobbyists can have considerable impact on FDA approval, whether or not the product is actually safe. Doctors are responsible for staying abreast of all studies pertaining to the medicines they prescribe, and despite their Hippocratic Oath to "Do No Harm", the vagaries of the health care system in America apply a tremendous amount of pressure to physicians. Doctors who find it difficult to make ends meet can therefore be susceptible to kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies who want them to push their products on their patients.

To avoid dangerous and deadly damages from new medications and medical devices it is important that all patients read the labels and descriptions carefully and take heed of any warnings or possible side effects. Patients must ask questions of their doctors about any medication reactions that might occur between new prescriptions and others they are currently on and should always follow directions carefully and precisely.

Despite a patient's best efforts to research their medications and follow directions to the letter, serious and unforeseen side effects may still occur when a product has been rushed to market before proper testing. Pharmaceutical companies are difficult entities to file legal claims against, for the same reason that their influence can rush unsafe medical products to market. They are powerful and possess enormous financial reserves and are likely to hold several lawyers on retainer to quickly deal with any lawsuits. A victim of modern medicine error made be in the right, yet be financially unable to successfully engage in a lawsuit against them. If you are concerned that you are such a patient then contact a personal injury lawyer experienced with medical or medication malpractice claims to discuss your situation and proceed with your case.