On July 14, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert regarding Avastin, a drug commonly prescribed to patients in combination with chemotherapy. The prescription drug is used to help treat metastatic colon cancer.

The safety alert was issued due to reports of several cases of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. The reports were made when Avastin was combined with sunitinib malate. The FDA has not approved the combination of Avastin and sunitinib malate. Defective drug attorneys understand that administering prescription medication that has not been approved by the FDA can cause serious adverse effects.

During a study of the use of Avastin combined with sunitinib malate, five patients of the twelve enrolled in the study developed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia.

Canadian drug makers, Health Canada, are recalling ratio-Morphine SR 15 milligram, 30 milligram and 60 milligram tablets. The tablets are being recalled due to possible overdose risks.

The recall was initiated after complaints were received by KV Pharmaceutical, a U.S. drug manufacturer.

Some morphine tablets may be oversized, containing more prescription medication than indicated on the label. This could lead to potential overdose.

According to defective drug attorneys, the symptoms of a morphine overdose are:

• Abnormal breathing
• Abnormally low blood pressure
• Abnormally low heart rate
• Dizziness

If untreated, a serious morphine overdose may also result in a cardiac arrest or fatality. If a drug overdose is suspected, defective drug lawyers agree that it is important to contact a qualified medical professional.

            The American Association for Justice (AAJ) conducted an extensive investigation to determine the worst insurance companies in America.  These include homeowners and auto insurers, health insurers, life insurers, and disability insurers. 

            According to AAJ, Allstate is placed at the top of the worst insurance provider list; this is largely due to the fact that their primary mission is to “earn a return for the shareholders.”  As a senior executive at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) said, “The bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims.”  Allstate even goes so far as to distribute corporate training manuals explaining how to avoid payments, and portable refrigerators are awarded to the adjusters who deny the most claims.  Former employees have called Allstate’s approach to claims the “three D’s”: deny, delay, and defend. 

            The top 10 list produced by AAJ, includes the following insurance companies:

                        Profits                          Assets

Allstate             $4.6 billion                   $156.4 billion

Unum               $679 million                  $52.4 billion

AIG                 $6.2 billion                   $1.06 trillion

State Farm       $5.5 billion                   $181.4 billion

Conseco          $179.9 million               $33.5 billion

WellPoint         $3.2 billion                   $51.6 billion

Farmers            $5.6 billion                   $387.7 billion

UnitedHealth    $4.7 billion                   $53.5 billion

Torchmark       $527.5 million               $15.2 billion

Liberty Mutual  $1.5 billion                   $94.7 billion

            It seems that the insurance industry has lost sight of the policyholders, and as Allstate’s CEO said, they have “begun to think and act more like a consumer products company.”  However, pro-consumer insurance reforms are being pushed, among these are: requiring insurers to work in good faith with consumers, requiring prior approval of rate increases, and establishing an insurance consumer advocate.

            Do not assume that because you are purchasing insurance you will always be protected, and keep these names in mind the next time you purchase insurance.  For more information on AAJ’s findings, and more specific information regarding individual companies, read the full report at http://www.justice.org/docs/TenWorstInsuranceCompanies.pdf