Chemotherapy is a vital treatment for many battling cancer, but recent concerns have surfaced regarding potential harm caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, a class action lawsuit chemotherapy is now being pursued by groups of individuals who claim to have suffered adverse effects from these medications.
The legal recourse initially aims to seek justice and compensation for those impacted. They can shed light on the complex intersection between medical treatment, patient rights, and the pursuit of legal action. Now, read this article to the end if you want to know more about it!
What is Chemotherapy?
According to the National Health Service website, chemotherapy is a way to treat cancer. It’s also known as ‘chemo’. However, it’s just one of the treatments that uses drugs to fight different kinds of cancer. There are other drug treatments, as follows.
1. Hormone therapy
This one is a medical treatment that stops some cancers from getting the hormones they need to grow.
2. Immunotherapy
It’s a therapy that helps your immune system fight cancer.
3. Targeted therapy
This one is a treatment that changes how cancer cells grow and act.
A doctor called a medical oncologist to take care of the treatment. These doctors specialize in using chemotherapy and other drugs to fight cancer. Sometimes, chemotherapy is used along with surgery or radiation therapy to treat cancer.
How Does It Work?
Chemotherapy travels throughout your body via the bloodstream, reaching and treating cancer cells almost anywhere in your body. This type of treatment, known as ‘systemic treatment,’ is quite effective.
The way chemotherapy works is by destroying cells in the middle of dividing them into two new cells. Know that our body is composed of billions of tiny cells. Once we reach adulthood, most of these cells don’t divide much except when there’s damage that needs repair.
When a cell divides, it creates a perfect duplicate of itself. So, one becomes two, then four, then eight, and so on. In cancer, cells constantly divide, forming a mass of cells called a tumor.
Since cancer cells divide more often than normal cells, chemotherapy can effectively kill them. Some medications target dividing cells by damaging the cell’s control center, while others disrupt the chemical processes necessary for cell division.
What Are the Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy medicines target fast-growing cells, like cancer cells, but they can also harm other cells in your body. This might cause different effects. Cells in your blood, skin, hair, and digestive tract grow and multiply fast. That’s why some usual effects of chemotherapy happen in these parts, such as:
- feeling tired because of anemia;
- bleeding easily;
- problems with constipation or diarrhea;
- feeling very tired (fatigue);
- losing hair;
- getting infections easily;
- not feeling hungry; and
- feeling sick and throwing up.
Class Action Lawsuit Chemotherapy for Taxotere
A class action lawsuit against chemotherapy started when this chemotherapy medication, Taxotere, was often used for breast cancer treatment. However, it led to permanent hair loss and eye problems like vision loss.
By December 2023, there were around 9,611 pending lawsuits regarding hair loss and 258 cases related to eye damage due to Taxotere consumption in federal court in Louisiana. These legal cases are still in progress, and there haven’t been any agreements or settlements announced yet regarding these issues tied to the drug.
Updates Regarding Class Action Lawsuit Chemotherapy Against Taxotere
The most recent update on the Taxotere lawsuits is on December 15, 2023. The update shows that there haven’t been any payments made for settlements related to hair loss or vision problems caused by the drug.
The lawsuits about hair loss are gathered in one place called federal MDL 2740, while those about eye injuries are in federal MDL 3023. Both of these groups of lawsuits are in front of Judge Jane Triche Milazzo in Louisiana federal court.
In 2022, Sanofi attempted to dismiss all claims in the Taxotere eye injury lawsuit, but as of December 2023, these cases are still ongoing. Here’s a summary of the lawsuit numbers on different dates!
February 2023
Judge Milazzo asked defendants to provide a list of plaintiffs in hair loss lawsuits who might be dismissed for not providing the required information in their court papers, specifically product ID and fact sheet deficiencies. The deadline for this was set for March 2023.
March 2023
Judge Milazzo added another liaison counsel for a different group of defendants, according to Pretrial Order No. 3 filed in February 2023.
April 2023
Taxotere lawsuits were still ongoing, with 10,720 for hair loss and 168 for vision problems in two separate MDLs in Louisiana federal court.
November 2023
Taxotere lawsuits were still ongoing, with 9,917 for hair loss and 249 for vision problems in two separate MDLs in Louisiana federal court.
December 2023
There were 9,611 lawsuits about hair loss and 258 about eye damage pending in two separate groups (MDLs).
Eligibility for Class Action Lawsuit Chemotherapy for Taxotere
You might be eligible for this legal action concerning vision loss if you were given the Taxotere chemotherapy drug to treat breast cancer or another cancer type. Note that the sufferers experienced vision issues or loss to meet the criteria.
Generally speaking, different law firms have specific standards. Yet typically, only subsequent injuries could meet the requirements for a vision loss lawsuit.
What are the Steps to Start a Class Action Lawsuit Chemotherapy?
The primary step to begin a Taxotere lawsuit involves obtaining a complimentary case evaluation from an attorney. Only a qualified attorney can assess whether you have a valid claim. In these types of cases, attorneys typically do not charge unless you win your case or receive a settlement.
Before speaking with an attorney, ensure you gather medical records from both your oncologist and eye doctor. Having any receipts, notes, or other documents related to your eye issues and Taxotere usage on hand is pivotal. The attorney will inquire about your experience with Taxotere.
What Are Your Thoughts on Class Action Lawsuit Chemotherapy?
In summary, contemplating a class action lawsuit chemotherapy raises significant concerns about patient safety. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the complexities and challenges inherent in these legal cases.
Furthermore, your acts contribute to making healthcare fairer and more transparent for everyone. Your fair opinion plays a significant role in determining the collaboration between law and healthcare. In the end, it can bring fairer outcomes and justice for all those affected.
