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Your Legal Options When a Natural Remedy/Alternative Medicine Causes Harm

Published on Nov 6, 2019 at 10:42 am in Product Liability.

Shelves full of natural ingredients

Wellness is a term becoming more prevalent in our society. People are looking for ways to give themselves the best care possible. This is an excellent goal to have, but sometimes when people don’t have all the information, it can lead to taking substances that end up harming them. There are many unknowns when it comes to natural remedies as they’re not prescribed by doctors. If you’ve been taking natural remedies and have sustained injuries or illness, you should explore your legal options.

Product liability is an area of personal injury law for when defective products harm the people who use them. The natural remedy you’ve taken may have caused injuries and the company that was involved with that remedy may have known about the dangers of the substance or made a mistake when making and selling it. In any case, it’s worth taking a look into. The lawyers at DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC will review the validity of your claim. If we believe you have a case, we can start fighting for you.

What Are the Dangers of Alternative Medicine?

Before learning more about how our firm may be able to help you, let’s investigate why alternative medicine can be dangerous. One of the most powerful tools on alternative medicine’s side is its marketing power—people like the sound of natural medicine.

Public Perception of Natural Remedies

While there are many problems surrounding natural remedies and alternative medicines, misinformation is one that persists and continues to put people in danger. When one hears the phrase “natural remedy,” they may automatically think that the remedy is good for them and cannot do any harm.

This can lead to people trying to treat their symptoms on their own without discussing anything with their doctors. If someone takes alternative medicine in addition with other medications, they could be at risk for a number of problems:

  • Drug interactions
  • Allergic reactions
  • Additional health issues

If you’re taking herbal remedies, it’s possible they could interact with other drugs you’re taking, whether they’re from a prescription or over-the-counter. If they interact, you could experience side effects.

Alternative medicine could contain something you’re allergic to but you didn’t know. You could have symptoms that range from painful to possibly life-threatening.

The natural herbal remedy itself could be inherently dangerous to anyone who takes it. However, when people hear the medicine comes from herbs, they could associate being natural with safe, and think it’s okay to take them.

There are some examples from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health that demonstrate how natural does not equal safe or good for you. Kava, a plant from the South Pacific, has been used as a natural remedy to help treat anxiety. However, there’s a possibility the kava plant could be linked to severe liver damage. Ephedra was used to treat colds and fevers, but may also cause heart problems or even death. The FDA banned supplements that had ephedrine alkaloids in 2004 to help keep people safe.

It’s important to remember that medicine you get from a doctor or at a pharmacy have been rigorously tested and needed to get FDA approval. Natural remedies do not go through this process and they may contain dangers that you don’t know about.

Who May Be Held Liable?

When you’re hurt because of alternative medicine, you may not know if you have grounds for legal action. That’s why you should meet with a product liability lawyer. You may be able to file a claim against the drug manufacturer.

The company that makes the drug may sell it as a health supplement, but then when you take the drug, it causes injuries. For example, they could recommend a dosage that causes health issues. Manufacturers are also supposed to warn consumers of possible dangers so the consumer is informed of the risks when taking the drug. If the label doesn’t include safety warnings and the manufacturer didn’t take the proper steps to inform the consumer of the drug’s possible dangers, then you may be able to hold them liable for your losses.

Contact a Trustworthy Law Firm Today

The law firm of DiPiero Simmons McGinley & Bastress, PLLC has extensive experience in product liability cases and getting our clients justice. We won’t let large manufacturing companies intimidate you into settling for less than you deserve. With our lawyers at your side, you can rest assured that we’re protecting your rights.

Give our office a call today so we can schedule a free consultation. We’ll go over the merits of your case, answer your questions, and discuss your options. Together, we can find the right way forward for you.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice. Viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Prior case results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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