Heparin injury occurs to individuals who take heparin, a drug that is commonly used to treat blood-clotting issues. This medication, although effective as an anti-coagulant, can also be the reason for many health maladies. THE drug can cause deadly allergic problems, infections, and even fatalities in patients in the United States and probably even in other countries.

Heparin and heparin injury are things that the average American may not know about. But it is probably high time that everyone’s eyes are opened to see the side effects of improperly using this drug. One of the high profile cases connected to the use of heparin happened IN 2007, involving the twins of famous Hollywood star Dennis Quaid and wife Kimberly Buffington. Their kids were given heparin doses that were 1,000 times over the recommended amount. What’s more alarming is that this happened in one of the prominent hospitals in the country. Luckily, the twins survived the ordeal and people learned about the possible ill effects of this drug.

But not all cases of heparin injury have had such endings. There are victims who suffer permanent damage to their health and some have even died. From the time this drug was introduced in the market back in the 1930s, it seems that mislabeling and improper treatment have been common blunders linked to the administration of this drug. At present, however, health practitioners are also fighting with another problem with heparin, one that involves contamination.

The contamination of heparin, which is typically injected into the patient, can bring about serious allergic reactions and other types of injuries that can be fatal. Just last year, there were two disturbing cases involving tainted heparin. One was traced to ordinary syringes that had the infectious Serratia marcescens bacterium in them. The other was linked to a Chinese manufacturer, which used a cheaper version of one of the active components of heparin. This resulted in at least 80 fatalities in the U.S.

Through the years, heparin has been a very effective drug that prevents blood clots. And it can be a huge lifesaver. But many patients have also suffered from heparin injury. True, many of the bad things that are being said about heparin are not about the drug itself, but rather about its misuse and contamination. Nevertheless, such carelessness had cost the health, or even the lives, of countless people.

The time of reckoning is now. If you are one of those who have suffered because of misuse or contamination of heparin, you should speak up and submit your case so you can be compensated for your suffering.