According to Sedgwick’s quarterly United States product recall index, 2022 is shaping up to be the year with the most recalls ever made, with more than one billion products recalled in the first seven months of the year. Only two previous years have come close to as many recalls – 2018 and 2021.
In the report, Sedgwick claims “increased regulatory scrutiny” can be blamed for an increase in recalls in the following sectors: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer products, automotive, and food and beverages.
2022 Pharmaceutical Recalls
When a pharmaceutical company believes its product may cause harm to consumers, the company may initiate a voluntary recall. A pharmaceutical recall, also known as a drug recall, occurs when a company removes its defective or potentially harmful prescription or over-the-counter medication from the market. There are several reasons a product may be involved in a pharmaceutical recall, including being found hazardous to human health, mislabeled, stored in defective packaging, contaminated, or due to a manufacturing flaw.
Current pharmaceutical recalls may be found on the United States Food and Drug Administration’s website at www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/drug-recalls.
What To Do If A Drug Is Recalled
If an individual finds that the drug they are taking is part of a recall, they should immediately stop using the product and contact their health care provider. An individual’s pharmacist or doctor can offer an alternative medication. The drug manufacturer’s website will list what a consumer should do next, which may include returning the drug to the store where it was purchased or sending it directly to the manufacturer for a refund.
2022 Medical Device Recalls
According to Sedgwick’s quarterly report, the leading cause of medical device recalls reaching a two-year high was safety and software issues. Safety concerns accounted for forty-eight of the 268 recalls, while forty-seven software issues were listed. Adding to the overall number of medical device recalls was the increased distribution and then recall of coronavirus tests, which were recalled for issues such as false-negative risks and being sold in the United States without the proper approval.
It is the responsibility of manufacturers to initiate a recall, but in some cases, the FDA mandates a recall. A complete list of medical devices currently being recalled may be found on the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/2022-medical-device-recalls.
What To Do If A Medical Device Is Recalled
Approximately 4,500 medical devices are recalled each year. Medical device recalls are particularly serious because by the time a recall has been issued patients have already been injected or implanted with the medical device.
If an individual finds that a medical device they are using has been recalled, they should immediately contact their physician. Depending on the type of device, a patient’s doctor may recommend a replacement device or a revision surgery to remove and replace the device. The patient should also document any symptoms or side effects they believe are because of the defective medical device. This information may be helpful to the individual’s doctor, and also to their lawyer should the injuries experienced lead to a claim or lawsuit against the manufacturer. For information regarding refunds for the product, consumers should visit the manufacturer’s recall notice and follow the indicated steps.
2022 Consumer Product Recalls
Consumer product recalls are initiated if a manufacturer or the FDA believes that a product is potentially unsafe or defective. Safe Kids Worldwide encourages consumers to check recall pages regularly, as product recalls do not expire. This is especially true when it comes to children’s items that are often passed down to another child. The United States Product Safety Commission keeps an updated list of current consumer product recalls at www.cpsc.gov/Recalls.
What To Do If A Consumer Product is Recalled
When a recall is issued by the U.S. Product Safety Commission, it will alert the public as to whether the unsafe or defective product should be replaced, repaired, or thrown away. A consumer who has discovered that a product is being recalled should immediately refrain from using the product and refer to the U.S. Product Safety Commission recall alert or call the manufacturer to find out what to do with the product next.
2022 Automotive Recalls
The most recent recalls by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration include 99,186 Jeep and 75,316 Toyota units. Other automotive manufacturers involved in recalls during the week of July 28th through August 4th are Audi, BMW, Ferrari, Ford, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Jaguar. The most common reason for an automotive recall is a defect in how the car, or one of its parts, functions.
If a car, its equipment, car seat, or tires present a possible safety risk or fail to meet safety standards, a recall will be issued on the vehicle or its parts. A recall may be issued by the automotive manufacturer or by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
A car owner may check if a recall has been issued on their vehicle by entering the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What To Do After An Car Recall Is issued
If a car owner finds that their vehicle is part of a recall, they must follow all safety guidelines provided by the manufacturer and then visit the car dealership to have the car serviced and repaired. The dealership will fix the recalled part or area of the car at no charge to the owner.
2022 Food and Beverage Recalls
Food and beverages are recalled when they are mislabeled or found to pose a potential risk to consumers. A recall may be issued by the supplier, manufacturer, or by the FDA. During a recall, a company will remove the product from the market.
The most common reason edible products are recalled is due to the packaging being incorrect. If physical, biological, or chemical hazards are found in the product, it may also be recalled.
Consumers may find a complete list of Food and Beverage recalls on the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts.
What To Do If A Food Or Beverage Is Recalled
Recalled food products should not be eaten. If the product has not been opened previously, it should remain sealed. Consumers should also check the recall notice to understand what to do with the product. In many cases, a consumer may return the product to the store where they purchased it and ask for a refund. When the product has been opened, the recall notice may ask consumers to safely dispose of the product where children and animals cannot access it.
Call An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured by a drug, medical device, consumer product, vehicle, or edible product, you have the right to file a lawsuit and seek compensation for your injuries even if the manufacturer has issued a recall.
Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys can help you understand your options and navigate the legal process. Give us a call today for a free consultation at 305-662-6178.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-drug-recall#
https://www.medtechdive.com/news/device-recalls-two-year-high-q2-sedgwick/629979/
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/2022-medical-device-recalls
https://www.drugwatch.com/fda/recalls/
https://thebossmagazine.com/what-should-i-do-if-a-medical-device-is-recalled/
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/product_recall.asp#
https://www.wikimotors.org/what-are-the-most-common-reasons-for-a-car-recall.htm
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
