Even though in December of 2017, the FDA issued a tougher warning on gadolinium, the dye used in MRI and MRA scans, doctors still push patients to use the hazardous chemical. The government agency is calling for additional studies and urging doctors to be careful. However, the medical field isn’t heeding the warnings.
About Gadolinium
Gadolinium is a chemical element carrying the atomic number 64 and the atomic symbol Gd. Belonging to a group of elements in the periodic table called Lanthanides, the chemical is a rare earth element typically used in microwave applications, color TV tubes, synthetic gemstones, compact discs, and computer memory. This chemical element is widely used as an injectable contrast agent when patients undergo magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scans.
Gadolinium Deposition Disease (GDD) is when those with normal or near normal renal function develop persistent symptoms that arise within two months after the administration of GBCAs. Symptoms include a persistent headache, bone and joint pain, brain fog, thickening of soft tissue, skin that appears spongy or rubbery, painful tendons and ligaments, tightness in hands and feet, burning, cognitive difficulties and central nervous system problems.
Many end up bedridden or in wheelchairs due to their loss of mobility and pain. It doesn’t matter a patient’s health beforehand. Top level athletes or young parents have been unable to work again after GDD. Treatments are costly, and there is not a cure.
Doctors Pushing Gadolinium
In the FDA warning, the agency recommended that radiologists consider how much gadolinium might be left behind in a patient’s body when selecting a gadolinium-based contrast agent for scans. The recommendation is especially important “for patients who may be at higher risk, such as those who may require repeat GBCA MRI scans to monitor a chronic condition,” explained Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Also, patients receiving MRIs should now receive a medication guide outlining issues about the chemical agent.
However, patients are saying this isn’t the case. Doctors are not educating patients on the side effects of this dye. The community is still pushing that since the chemical agent has been used for 30 years that it must be safe. Then, when a patient develops GDD, the doctor doesn’t believe him or her.
Kickbacks
A theory has been proposed as to why medical professionals keep pushing this deadly dye even with FDA warnings. It is because of pharmaceutical company kickbacks. For example, Dr. Prince is a renown medical doctor on the board of the Medical Advisory Council of the Global Fibrosis Foundation (GFF). GFF advocates for patients with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). NSF is a documented reaction to gadolinium injections. These injections injured many people and gave them NSF.
Yet, Dr. Prince began denying the existence of NSF. ProPublica’s Dollars for Docs shows he received $3 million in royalties from 2013 to 2015. The bulk of the royalties came from the manufacturers of GBCAs. These include Bayer Pharmaceuticals makers of Magnevist, $1.68 million, and Gadavist, $1.42 million. Also, Dr. Prince went as far as authoring a study funded by Bayer on the dye. The report says that they found gadolinium hot spots of retention but no clinical effects. Medscape published the study on January 25, 2016, and the last payment Dr. Prince received from Bayer was on December 31, 2015.
Not only is Dr. Prince harming patients, but he is also fooling the entire medical community isn’t believing these dyes are perfectly safe.
Free Case Evaluation
A gadolinium lawsuit may be an option for patients suffering from gadolinium retention and related complications. Gadolinium, used in dyes to increase the clarity of MRI and MRA scans, can create chemical element retention in the body, Therefore, this increases the risk of gadolinium deposition disease and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. These conditions are accompanied with symptoms that include severe physical pain and cognitive difficulties. Affected patients and their loved ones may be able to file a lawsuit and recover damages.
For more information, contact The Michael Brady Lynch Firm. We offer free, confidential, no-obligation consultations. We have over 20 years experience helping consumers injured by unsafe products manufactured by large companies.
