[elkpark]

Originally Posted by decartes

If something's not right, blame China.

Well, when it is China's responsibility, YES!!!!!

Although, of course, I also blame the greedy, thoughtless, uncaring US corporations who value profit over our health and safety ...

[BrokenRNheart]

Heparin was recalled after the Dennis Quaid twins incident. They claim it was contaminated.

Hmmm?

So if the drug is right, the patient is right, the dose is right and the route is right how do we tell if the drug is "right"??

[indigo girl]

Supplier Denies Economics at Root of Heparin Contamination

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Nephrology/ESRD/tb/9146


I am sure glad to know that this was not a profit based decision. Why
would anyone think it was? No, of course not! Just a little contamination
at the lab, perhaps?

Originally Posted by www.medpagetoday.com

Last week, the FDA said there have been 62 fatal allergic reactions following the use of apparently adulterated heparin.


The agency's announcement had tripled the previously reported death toll linked to contaminated heparin. Last month, the FDA said there were 19 deaths linked to allergic reactions among patients who used suspect heparin.

[iluvivt]

Apparently the heparin manufactured in some factories had chondrotin (yes the same thing that is in arthritis OTC medication).The quality control did not catch it b/c it was so similar to the ingredient it should have been. My understanding is that it is an allergic type reaction and hypersensitivity reaction people are dying from. The Dennis Quaid incident is a separate one. That incident involved a heparin flush that should have been 10 units per ml but was really was 10000 units per ml. Apparently the wrong stock was places in the nursery and the end user (the nurse ) did not catch it. I always check my vial or amp no matter how many times I think I have seen it before and I never rely on color b/c pharmacies change brands all the time.

[marie-francoise]

Here is an update:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/04/21...rin/index.html