In an e-book that our firm recently wrote about the side effects caused by the kidney dialysis drug, GranuFlo — “How the Largest Operator of Dialysis Centers Kept GranuFlo on the Market … Even After Reports of Consumer Harm Emerged” — we reflected in depth on the historical roots of medical ineptitude. Briefly: a company called Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) has promoted a defective kidney dialysis drug in thousands of dialysis centers across the United States for years, in spite of science suggesting that the drug caused grievous side effects. When GranuFlo was used, blood alkalinity levels elevated. This put some individuals at high risk for cardiac arrest.

The story offers a fascinating look at how a company (Fresenius) — aided and abetted by a medical industry — sacrificed the Hippocratic Oath, prioritized profits, and buried any science that threatened those profits. Why bring this up? The answer is that the GranuFlo and Lipitor disputes both involve instances in which big companies (Fresenius and Pfizer, respectively) elected to ignore good science and risk the welfare of their clients in exchange for profits.

However, there is a big difference between these two stories. Kidney dialysis is a life-saving, wonderful technology. Many people suffering from end-stage renal disease would die without this service. Even vocal critics of Fresenius would never argue that “dialysis is bad” or that dialysis technologies don’t make our world a better place. Yet with respect to statins, the situation is far more ambiguous.

Unfortunately, since statins have become so ingrained in modern medical culture, even the act of criticizing these drugs is fraught. The most vocal critics of statins are, after all, “on the fringes” of medicine. This does not mean that their arguments are not valid. However, it suggests that people must be cautious and skeptical towards these sources.

For a free evaluation of your potential Lipitor claim, call Davis & Crump now at 800-277-0300 or email us at info@daviscrump.com.