In today’s edition of Speaking of Justice host Scott Drake is joined by Civil Action lawyer Jan Schlichtmann as they discuss the news of the day concerning the Procrit and Aranesp and the potential cancer causing anemia drug issues. Since the fall of 2006 the medical, consumer and legal community have been closely watching the studies and investigations into these widely prescribed drugs for people on chemotherapy. 

Just today the ODAC committee of the FDA have now voted 13-1 that the drugs should stay available on the market and for use in cancer patients, but by a 12-2 vote that they should only be used in patients whose cancer is so far into it’s final stages that there is little hope for survival. Essentially they are baring it’s use in cases where there is early stage cancer or treatment so that the feared cancer accelerating aspects of these drugs are not a risk to patients. There are very few circumstances under which these drugs should be used if you or a family member have cancer and if you do use it you need to be in constant communication with your oncologist regarding it’s safety in your particular case.

Listen to the full podcast on anemia drugs, the FDA ruling and the future potential of any litigation as a result of the widely prescribed off label use of these drugs.