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NORIAN BONE CEMENT
Two Synthes executives plead guilty to illegal use of
Norian bone cement
If you are a military veteran and you participated in a clinical trial involving a Synthes bone cement product called "Norian XR" to mend a spinal fracture, you could be eligible for monetary compensation – even if you were not injured. Obtain a free case review with our firm's Norian lawyer today through the form on this page.
Synthes’ bone cement products – Norian SRS and its successor, Norian XR – lacked FDA approval for use on spinal fractures and led to serious complications. Three patients, all family members of U.S. military veterans, died during improper clinical trials in 2004.
Federal authorities indicted the manufacturer for marketing an unauthorized medical product and two executives yesterday pleaded guilty to the illegal use of Norian bone cement.
NEWS UPDATE: NORIAN BONE CEMENT
July 21, 2009 -- Two executives of Synthes Inc., a medical device maker, yesterday pleaded guilty to their involvement in the company’s illegal trials of bone-mending cement that led to the deaths of three patients, all family dependents of people serving in the military.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs was involved in the investigation because “some of the procedures were at VA hospitals,” said a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney in Philadelphia. Officials aren’t releasing the names of the hospitals, she said.
“The Department of Defense is outraged by a company that potentially puts our military personnel, their family members, and veterans at undue risk for serious medical complications or even death, just to increase their corporate bottom line,” Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Kenneth Maupin, of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service said in a statement.
Prosecutors estimate that 200 patients had the improper operations.
The two executives pleaded guilty in federal court in Philadelphia to one misdemeanor count of shipping misbranded Norian XR across state lines. They each face as long as one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, said a U.S. attorney said in a statement.
Norian bone cement defendants
The defendants – Synthes, Inc. a $3-billion global company specializing in trauma products and devices to treat damaged bone, its Norian Corporation unit and four executives – were indicted last month over claims they had conspired to hold unauthorized clinical trials of Norian-brand bone cement from May 2002 to late 2004.
The three patients died from a rapid drop in blood pressure during surgery to treat vertebral compression fractures of the spine, a condition commonly afflicting the elderly.
Synthes and Norian stopped the surgical tests in January 2004 after the third patient died.
Obtain compensation for Norian bone cement surgery
If you participated in a Norian trial you could be eligible to receive monetary compensation, whether you were injured or not.
To see if you are eligible for restitution, discuss your case today with the personal injury law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, long recognized in the legal community for obtaining record-breaking verdicts and settlements for clients.
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Execs Plead Guilty
Two Synthes execs plead guilty to illegal use of Norian bone cementLaw firm: Norian bone cement patients can obtain compensation
Synthes Bone Cement
Lawyer: Possible Misuse of Synthes Bone Cement on Spinal Fractures.Get a free lawsuit review from a lawyer regarding Synthes bone cement
