Fresenius Dialysis & GranuFlo/NaturaLyte

An estimated 400,000 Americans receive dialysis for kidney problems and a leading supplier of medical equipment and drugs used by kidney patients is being investigated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fresenius Medical Care provides treatments in its own dialysis centers to approximately one third of all dialysis patients in this country, and one of its products, GranuFlo, has been linked to drastically increased rates of cardiac arrest in patients who took it.

Fresenius is being investigated for having failed to explain GranuFlo heart risks to dialysis patients. Cardiac arrest is when the hearts stops pumping, which means dialysis patients could be in danger of suffering a GranuFlo fatal injury. Though, in 2011, the company sent an internal memo to its employees in its own dialysis centers regarding the dangerous drug, GranuFlo cardiac arrest risk warnings were not passed on to patients in the FMS dialysis centers. Dialysis centers owned by other companies but who administer GranuFlo to its patients were not warned by FMS either.

 

Call a GranuFlo Dangerous Drug Lawyer Who Will Fight For Your Rights

 

Don’t let a defective dialysis medical product manufacturer ruin your life. If you or a loved one suffered GranuFlo cardiac arrest or GranuFlo heart problems of any kind, call Chhabra & Gibbs P.A. for a free consultation, at 877-317-8005 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 877-317-8005 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting or 601-948-8005 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 601-948-8005 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

 

Dialysis is a process that replaces the kidneys’ important function of removing toxic waste from the blood system. This process requires bicarbonate, which has alkaline, to neutralize the acid that builds up in the blood. GranuFlo contains an ingredient that the body converts to bicarbonate as part of this detoxification process, but it contains more of it than competitors’ versions. Not all doctors consider the higher amount in GranuFlo when prescribing extra bicarbonate to patients, which can cause dangerous heart problems including a GranuFlo fatality.

 

Contact the Law Offices of Chhabra & Gibbs Today

 

The FDA may issue a formal warning to Fresenius if it decides that FMC should have alerted kidney dialysis GranuFlo patients and other dialysis centers of the potentially dangerous GranuFlo bicarbonate levels. If you experienced a GranuFlo cardiac arrest or lost a loved one due to GranuFlo death, call Chhabra & Gibbs now at 877-317-8005/601-948-8005.

Discrimination in Employment

An employer may not discriminate against an individual on the basis of his or her race, color, sex (including pregnancy), age, religion, national origin or disability.  In addition, an employer may not discriminate against an individual in retaliation for participating in a protected activity (such as filing a charge of discrimination against your employer, complaining about discrimination  or participating in an employment discrimination investigation or lawsuit for yourself or another individual). 

 

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing the laws related to discrimination in the above areas.  Generally, these laws apply to employers with 15 or more employees.

 

The first step you must take if you feel that you have been discriminated against for one of the above reasons is to contact the EEOC and file a Charge of Discrimination.  This charge of discrimination must be filed within 180 days from when the discrimination took place.  It is very important that the charge of discrimination is timely filed.

 

Once you have filed a charge of discrimination against your employer, the investigators with the EEOC will conduct an investigation.  Your employer will be advised that you have filed a charge of discrimination and they will be given an opportunity to respond to the charges.  Some cases are able to be resolved through medication in the EEOC process.  If the case is not resolved, the EEOC will then either issue a Determination (finding that the employer did discriminate against you) or will give you a Right to Sue if they did not find evidence of a violation.  Even if the EEOC does not find evidence of a violation, this does not mean you are not able to file suit.  Once the EEOC issues the Right to Sue letter, you will have 90 days to file suit in court against your employer.

 

If you believe you have been discriminated against by your employer, please call Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. at 601-948-8005 or 1-877-317-8005 for a free consultation.

 

Teresa Harvey, Esq.

 

For questions about this or any other are of law, visit our website at www.cglawms.com or call our office at 601-948-8005 for a free consultation.

 

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

For many Mississippians, working on the water provides a steady source of income with which they can care for their families.  Unfortunately, because accidents can and will happen, there will be times when one of our Mississippi maritime workers is injured or killed on the job.

If you or a loved one has been injured while working on the water, here’s what you should know:
-The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act is a federal law that provides a means for which our Mississippi workers can be compensated for injuries received while working on the water.
-The term “working on the water” includes jobs performed on any of the navigable waterways in and around the continental United States, as well as piers, docks, terminals, wharves, and loading areas adjoining the water.
-A claim must be filed with the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs within one year of injury of death.

Here are a few answers to questions injured workers may have:

What should I do if I am injured while working on the water?
First, notify your employer of the injury immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible. You are entitled to seek medical help from a physician of YOUR choosing.  Next, file a written report of injury with both your employer and the District Director of the Longshore district office within thirty days of injury.  If you fail to file a written report within that time period, you could potentially forgo your rights to compensation.

If I’m hurt on the water and file a claim with the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, can my employer fire me?
No. Federal law prevents an employer from retaliating against an employee who files a claim with the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

How much money will I get for my injury?
That depends on several factors.  The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act has provided a fee schedule to help quantify a dollar amount based on which body part is injured; however, there are several variables an Administrative Law Judge can take into consideration when determining how large an award will be.

Should I hire an attorney if I am hurt while working on the water?
Absolutely. While the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act exists in order to help injured employees, the process of filing a claim can be tricky, and one misstep along the way could cause your claim to be dismissed.  Also, you’ll need someone in your corner who knows how to maximize the amount of compensation you are entitled to.  Remember, you are dealing with an insurance company who is in the business of making and saving money.

Seth Thompson