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A recent lawsuit filed against Pfizer Inc. and co-defendants Greenstone, Viatris, and Prasco in California federal court, alleges the companies failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about the risk of brain tumors associated with the use of the hormonal contraceptive Depo-Provera. The plaintiff alleges she used Depo-Provera for 16 years and later developed a brain tumor, requiring surgery. The lawsuit claims scientific research has linked Depo-Provera, a high-dose progestin contraceptive, to an increased risk of developing meningiomas (brain tumors), yet Pfizer failed to update its U.S. product labeling with these warnings, despite having done so in the European Union and United Kingdom.

The plaintiff accuses Pfizer and its co-defendants of negligence, failure to warn, and other claims, seeking damages for her injuries. She argues the companies should have provided information about the risks and monitored patients for potential side effects. Plaintiff’s attorneys argue the defendants could have offered a safer, lower-dose alternative.

The Arkansas Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against YouTube, Google, their parent company Alphabet Inc., and XXVI Holdings Inc., accusing the entities of designing YouTube to deliberately addict young users, leading to a mental health crisis. The lawsuit claims YouTube’s algorithms and features like autoplay and recommendations are designed to keep users, particularly youth, engaged, which has resulted in issues such as sleep deprivation, addiction, and exposure to harmful content. The complaint also criticizes YouTube’s age verification process as ineffective, allowing minors to access inappropriate content like self-harm videos and sexually explicit material. The Attorney General alleges YouTube has prioritized profits through ads and data collection, while disregarding the negative impact on youth mental health. The lawsuit seeks damages and legal orders to prevent further harmful practices under claims of public nuisance and violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Google responded, stating it prioritizes safe experiences for youth, and it has allegedly collaborated with experts to create age-appropriate services.

The FDA is informing patients, caregivers, and health care professionals that the manufacturer Pfizer Inc. is voluntarily withdrawing Oxbryta (voxelotor) from the market due to safety concerns.

This decision follows data showing that the risks, such as an increased rate of vaso-occlusive crisis (severe pain from blocked blood flow) and more deaths in clinical trials, outweigh the benefits for sickle cell patients. Health care professionals should stop prescribing Oxbryta, and patients should consult their doctors about alternative treatments.

The FDA is reviewing the safety data and will communicate any further findings if necessary. Oxbryta had been approved under an accelerated approval pathway since 2019, but the postmarketing studies revealed significant concerns. Other FDA-approved treatments for sickle cell disease are available as alternatives.

MNGI Digestive Health notified over 765,000 individuals their personal and protected health information was compromised in a data breach in August of 2023. It took nearly a year for the healthcare provider to determine sensitive data, including names, Social Security numbers, medical information, and financial details, had been accessed.

The class act complaint against MNGI Digestive Health, P.A was filed in Hennepin County Minnesota earlier this year alleging negligence, breach of implied contract, and a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The court file number is 27-CV-24-11008.

This 2024 national case-control study from France examined the risk of developing intracranial meningiomas associated with the use of specific progestogens, including Depo-Provera. The study included 18,061 women who underwent surgery for meningioma and compared them to 90,305 controls. Key findings are:

• Medrogestone, medroxyprogesterone acetate (injectable), and promegestone were associated with an increased risk of meningioma, especially with prolonged use (≥1 year).
• Cyproterone acetate, nomegestrol acetate, and chlormadinone acetate showed very high risks and were used as positive controls.

The study highlighted the increased risk with injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate, a common contraceptive.

Dana Filmore, a 55-year-old grandmother, began taking Ozempic to manage her Type 2 diabetes despite her fear of needles. After more than three years on the drug, she was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a condition where the stomach muscles are paralyzed, causing severe digestive issues. Six months after stopping the drug, Filmore still struggles to digest food, forcing her to live on a restrictive diet and miss out on family events, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Filmore is one of thousands suing Novo Nordisk (maker of Ozempic) and Eli Lilly (maker of Mounjaro), claiming the companies failed to warn users of the risk of gastroparesis. The lawsuit alleges the drugs, which are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, caused the condition by slowing gastric emptying. Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly deny the claims, arguing the drugs are safe when used as directed, although Ozempic’s FDA label does not list gastroparesis as a side effect.

Research published in 2023 suggests a possible link between the drugs and gastroparesis. More than 20,000 cases of Ozempic side effects have been reported to the FDA since 2018, with gastrointestinal issues making up 43% of the reports.

Recent research has linked the birth control shot Depo-Provera, produced by Pfizer, to an increased risk of developing brain tumors, specifically meningiomas, prompting multiple lawsuits. The study, published in March 2024, suggests medroxyprogesterone acetate, a key ingredient in Depo-Provera, may cause these tumors, which are usually benign but can lead to serious complications like vision changes, headaches, and seizures.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuits claim Pfizer either withheld information about these risks or failed to conduct adequate long-term safety testing and seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain, and legal fees. Some lawsuits may even involve wrongful death claims if a loved one died due to a meningioma linked to the drug. Though meningiomas often present no symptoms, individuals with concerns are advised to consult a doctor.

A federal judge in North Carolina ruled DuPont and its spin-off companies, including Corteva and Chemours, cannot avoid a lawsuit filed by residents who claim the companies polluted the Cape Fear River with toxic “forever chemicals” (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)), leading to cancer and other health issues. The lawsuit, brought by residents from Cumberland, New Hanover, and Pender counties, targets decades of chemical discharges from the Fayetteville Works plant.

While U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III dismissed some of the residents’ claims—such as unfair trade practices and public nuisance—the companies still face accusations of negligence, gross negligence, and trespass. The judge stated the residents plausibly alleged the companies knowingly discharged harmful chemicals, posing a health risk. The case, filed in October 2023, is part of broader litigation, including suits by North Carolina’s attorney general and a large water utility.

What is gaming disorder?

Gaming disorder is defined in the 11^th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.

How is gaming disorder identified?

For gaming disorder to be diagnosed, the behavior pattern must be severe enough it results in significant impairment to a person’s functioning in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas.

Why is gaming disorder being included in ICD-11?

A decision on inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11 is based on reviews of available evidence and reflects a consensus of experts from different disciplines and geographical regions involved in the process of technical consultations undertaken by WHO in the process of ICD-11 development.

The inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD-11 follows the development of treatment programs for people with health conditions identical to those characteristic of gaming disorder in many parts of the world, and will result in the increased attention of health professionals to the risks of development of this disorder and, accordingly, to relevant prevention and treatment measures.

Legal actions are being taken against video game companies, accusing them of employing deceptive practices prioritizing profit over user safety and targeting young individuals to secure a future consumer base. These practices have led to significant emotional and social issues for affected individuals, sometimes requiring extensive treatments and interventions.

Instagram announced changes to allegedly improve safety for users under 18 as concerns about children’s online safety grow. New features will automatically limit who can see teen accounts and what teens can view on the platform. Teens under 16 will need parental consent to adjust these settings. They can only receive messages from people they follow, and will have the most restrictive settings for sensitive content. Instagram will alert teens when they’ve been online for an hour and mute notifications from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Parents will also have supervision tools, such as seeing who their child messages and setting time limits. The changes begin immediately for new users, with current teen users being notified soon. The updates will roll out globally by 2025. These actions follow concerns from parents, lawmakers, and a lawsuit accusing Instagram of harming teens’ mental health and collecting data from minors.