When Healing Doe THE RISK OF XARELTO AND I
When pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufactures cut corners, the results can be disastrous. Having any product fail can be dangerous, but when this product is in your own body, severe and even life-threatening damages can occur. Those living with a higher risk of blood clots are all too familiar with the risks defective medical products can pose. In recent years, mounting complaints have come in from not one, but two products trusted by consumers to reduce the risk of complications caused by blood clots. The blood thinning drug Xarelto and the medical devices known as Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filters have both been linked to harmful and sometimes fatal defects. If you rely on either of these products, here’s what you need to know. Xarelto is a brand of blood-thinning medication used to reduce the risk of blood clots, strokes, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Many consumers have come forward with complaints about uncontrollable bleeding while on Xarelto — potentially due to a drug defect or the manufacturer’s failure to warn of bleeding risks. The alleged issues after taking this drug include hemorrhaging, uncontrollable bleeding, and wrongful death. Serious internal bleeding from Xarelto can be deadly. Patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension are at higher risk of Xarelto- related bleeding. WHAT IS XARELTO? WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Chi Chi the Rescue Dog A QUADRUPLE AMPUTEE WHO INSPIRES THE WORLD In our darkest moments, it can be hard to believe joy can be found again. But one amazing dog proves that no matter what happens, through love and patience, we can make the world a better place. Chi Chi is a golden retriever who was found in a dumpster by an animal rescue group in South Korea. Badly injured and left in a garbage bag with her legs bound together, the only way to save Chi Chi’s life was to amputate all four of her legs. As she recovered, the call went out to find a family who could care for a dog with serious medical needs. As a quadruple amputee, just getting Chi Chi’s prosthetics on so she could go outside in the morning would be time-consuming. Fortunately, Elizabeth Howell from Arizona saw a video about Chi Chi’s plight online. “She stole my heart,” Howell said, taken by how Chi Chi was still wagging her tail despite her injuries. After seeing Chi Chi’s perseverance and her will to live, Elizabeth and her family took on the challenge. There were struggles as Chi Chi learned to trust people again, but with time, Chi Chi found peace and joy with her new family. “She exemplifies resilience and forgiveness and willingly shares her love and compassion in abundance,” Howell has said. “Her sweet-tempered and gentle spirit opens people’s hearts and her perceptive spirit senses where her love is needed.” Chi Chi’s vet has called her a “miracle dog,” referring both to the fact that she survived losing all her legs and to the joy she brings to the world. Today, Chi Chi is a registered therapy dog, offering strength, love, and support to those who need it most. She visits VA hospitals, assisted living facilities, and children with disabilities. To celebrate her journey of survival, courage, and love, Chi Chi was honored with the American Humane Hero Dog Award in 2018. You can follow the adventures of this brave, loving canine at Facebook.com/ChiChiRescueDog.
Unlike most other blood-thinning medications, Xarelto does not have an antidote. This means that instead of being able to administer vitamin K to reverse bleeding symptoms, doctors can only try to control the bleeding while the patient flushes Xarelto from his or her body. Therefore, bleeding events connected to Xarelto may have a higher risk of becoming deadly when compared to other blood thinners. As of Sept. 2018, more than 22,000 people have filed Xarelto injury lawsuits in federal courts.
WHAT’S THE CASE AGAINST XARELTO?
Despite the myriad of harms Xarelto can inflict on patients, the drug’s manufacturers marketed Xarelto as a safe, effective, one-size-
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