On April 4th, 2008, Attorney Devon C. Bruce filed a wrongful death and survival action on behalf of the Estate of Sam Valenzo against Baxter International, Inc., the manufacturer and distributor of heparin, and Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation f/k/a/ Scientific Protein Laboratories a component manufacturer. The complaint alleges that the defendants manufactured and distributed contaminated heparin. Mr. Valenzo received the contaminated heparin following a cardiovascular procedure. After receiving the heparin, he suffered an adverse reaction that eventually caused his death which occurred on February 16th, 2008. Mr. Valenzo left surviving a wife and two adult daughters.
Heparin is an anti-coagulant that is prescribed by healthcare providers all around the world. Baxter International is one of the primary manufacturers of heparin in the United States. On February 28th, 2008, Baxter International issued a recall of all of its heparin in the form of sodium injection multi-dose vials and heparin flush products.
The United States Food and Drug Administration stated last month that a cheap heparin substitute made from animal cartilage was used to supplement the heparin which Baxter International imported from China. Since that time, the Food and Drug Administration has estimated that 62 people may have died from allergic reactions associated with contaminated heparin.
