Heparin Testing Goes Awry?

Did flawed heparin tests lead to the recall?

If the primary purpose of heparin it is to make life better for those who take it why did the drug turn out to be so dangerous? Wouldn't the manufacturer, Baxter, realize that releasing a dangerous drug into the marketplace would cause so many problems? Honestly, Baxter did not release purposefully release a dangerous drug in the marketplace. However, the release of the drug heparin was seriously flawed due to improper lab testing. This places a great deal of negligence on Baxter's shoulders.

Let's look at the situation more closely…

When numerous adverse side effects started to display themselves in patients who had been taking heparin, the FDA conducted an examination of the drug to ascertain the problem. As it turned out, the drug contained a dangerous contaminant. It was this contaminant that was the reason a great many people were suffering serious adverse side effects. And, needless to say, this was the reason the drug was pulled off the market. Proper testing of the product would have revealed this contaminant, but the tests conducted were weak. Now, while it was not Baxter's intention to release a dangerous product to the public this is exactly what the company did. Of course, this is also why the company is being held liable for the damages that have resulted in the aftermath of the release.

It is the responsibility of all pharmaceutical companies to make sure that any products that are released to the marketplace are safe for consumers. Often, consumers rely on these products for their very lives. This is why it is important that the product itself does not threaten the life of the person taking it. Yet, this is exactly the problem with heparin. Baxter was responsible for properly conducting tests to make sure this was a safe drug. Obviously, this is not the procedure the company followed and this is why Baxter is in the position it finds itself in right now.