Baxter ordered to pay compensation in heparin case
According to a report Chicago Tribune the case of Steven Johansen, 63, of Oak Forest is one of many that Baxter and supplier Scientific Protein Laboratories are likely to face over the next few years.
The paper said Mr Johansen received low doses of contaminated heparin in December 2007 and later received a higher dosage of Baxter's heparin at Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights where he died on December 13.
This was echoed in a statement by the Nolan Law group that represented Mr Johansen’s estate.
“The active pharmaceutical ingredient in the contaminated heparin received by Mr. Johansen and other Americans was obtained from Baxter/SPL's Chinese supplier, Changzhou SPL. This crude heparin was referred to in the companies' own internal records as "the cheap stuff."
Baxter spokeswoman Deborah Spak told the Wall Street Journal that the company is taking responsibility for legitimate cases of harm related to the contamination seriously.
She adding that Baxter will "vigorously defend claims that are not consistent with the definition established by public health authorities."
