Canadians claim that health care providers failed to adequately warn them of testosterone products’ increased risks of life-threatening heart and blood vessel side effects.
New Class-Action Testosterone Lawsuit Launched in Canada
July 31, 2014 On the heels of a warning by Health Canada about the potential dangers associated with testosterone side effects, a class-action testosterone lawsuit has been launched in that country on behalf of those Canadians who have been harmed or potentially harmed by adverse reactions from the use of testosterone therapy, of which plaintiffs may not have been aware.New Class-Action Testosterone Lawsuit Launched in Canada According to a statement published by Canada NewsWire (7/22/14), a testosterone attorney affiliated with the Canadian firm Siskinds LLP noted, “In commencing the class action, Siskinds is seeking recovery for Canadians who took testosterone therapy and were not warned of the increased risk of suffering serious cardiovascular side effects, including heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and death.” Attorney Linda Visser further states: “As a matter of safety, patients and their health care providers need to be informed of the risks associated with using a particular pharmaceutical product.” The particular testosterone therapy product serving as the target for the Canadian class action is Delatestryl. The latter is just one of several testosterone or “Low-T” products on the market to which men are flocking in an effort to boost energy levels and vitality. There are testosterone side effects, however, that can prove serious to an individual’s health – including testosterone stroke or testosterone heart attack. Testosterone therapy has been around for decades, as a verified treatment for hypogonadism, a condition characterized by extremely low levels of testosterone. While testosterone levels wane gradually and naturally as men age, those men who are younger and suffer from hypogonadism – often the result of undescended testes – can face serious health consequences when testosterone is too low, or even absent. However, just as testosterone deemed too low can prove a problem, so can testosterone levels that prove too high – which is often the case in men who are motivated by the ever-increasing “Low-T” marketing juggernaut that promises more energy, increased sex drive and other benefits. One of the risks which, in serious cases, can bring about testosterone death is an over-production of red blood cells that can lead to thickening of the blood, which can lead to clotting. Many a testosterone lawsuit has been filed by disgruntled plaintiffs who have suffered strokes, heart attacks or other needless health events due to the use of testosterone supplementation therapy based on vanity or perceived need, rather than sound medical advice and diagnosis. As noted by LawyersandSettlement’s Heidi Turner, Health Canada reported recently that it had found evidence of “serious and possible life-threatening heart and blood vessel problems such as heart attack, stroke, blood clot in the lungs or legs; and increased or irregular heart rate with the use of testosterone replacement products.” Plaintiffs driving testosterone lawsuits already in the pipeline accuse manufacturers of maximizing the perceived need for testosterone supplementation, while minimizing the risks associated with testosterone use. In men who are not deemed to be in need of testosterone from a strictly medical context, those risks are needless, and the consequences often tragic. Had plaintiffs been aware of the dangers, many have said they would have not used testosterone. The Canadian testosterone lawsuit class action’s Statement of Claim alleges that the defendants failed to adequately warn patients and physicians that use of testosterone therapy increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, including heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and testosterone death. Originally posted on www.lawyersandsettlements.com by Gordon Gibb
