Cases of Fourniers Gangrene Are Steadily Increasing Around The World

Diabetes Drug Infection Lawsuit News

Another person taking a particular type of diabetes drug has contracted a rare flesh-eating disease affecting the genital region

Monday, March 25, 2019 - A Malaysian man has been reported to have been diagnosed recently with Fournier's gangrene, a type of necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum that often results in genital amputation or death. The patient who was taking diabetic medication was forced to undergo the partial amputation of his testicles and spend more than a month in the hospital. If left untreated Fournier's gangrene can spread to engulf the genitals, intestines, and abdomen.

The doctor making the initial diagnosis, Dr. Mohd Syamsul Alam Ismail, was suspended for failing to identify Fournier's gangrene. According to Malaysian sources, "The patient had been having a fever for five consecutive days and went to the doctor to check on a painful lump on his right buttock area as well." The lump was growing rapidly and causing the patient extreme pain. When the lump was pressed it made a crackling sound, an indicator that gangrene or tissue death was occurring. That crackling sound, along with the fact that the patient may have been taking medications called sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (or SGLT2) inhibitors, clearly pointed to Fournier's gangrene as a possibility. The crackling sound, normally accompanied by the foul smell of dead, rotting tissue is called crepitus. Crepitus produces a crackling sound when the affected area is pressed releasing gas and causing the tissues to rub against each other. Diabetes drug infection lawsuits continue to be filed in the United States and national attorneys offering free consultations can give advice before filing a claim.

The Malaysian man's Fournier's gangrene brings the total to 15 known cases of the disease developing in diabetic patients taking SGLT2 blocker drugs in recent years. Another horrific report of Fournier's gangrene occurred in 2018 when a 65-year patient in the United Kingdom developed the disease, causing his penis to fall off. The Fournier's victim was undertaking cancer treatment when doctors inserted a catheter into his penis to drain his bladder damaging the tissue inside the man's urethra. The tissue damage became infected causing necrotizing fasciitis of the penis to develop.

In the US, an 84-year-old Army veteran died while under the care of a Florida nursing home from complications from Fournier's gangrene. Medical attendants at the nursing home are accused of ignoring the patient's health concerns until the foul and unmistakable smell of rotting flesh overcame the facility leaving attendants with no choice other than to bring the man to the hospital where he died days later.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recorded 12 cases of Fournier's gangrene from 2013 to 2016 and issued an emergency warning to diabetic patients that take the SGLT2 blocker drugs. The FDA identified certain SGLT2 inhibitors that are of concern to the health agency. If you or a loved one with diabetes has contracted necrotizing fasciitis or "flesh-eating disease" and are a diabetes patient you should speak with a Fournier's gangrene attorney to see if you qualify to file a claim and hold the drug company accountable for their negligence. SGLT2 inhibitor drugs cited by the FDA include canagliflozin (Invokana, Invokamet, Invokamet XR), dapagliflozin (Farxiga, Xigduo XR, Qtern), empagliflozin (Jardiance, Glyxambi, Synjardy, Synjardy XR), and ertugliflozin (Steglatro, Segluromet, Stelujan).

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Lawyers for Fournier's Gangrene

OnderLaw, LLC is a St. Louis personal injury law firm handling serious injury and death claims across the country. Its mission is the pursuit of justice, no matter how complex the case or strenuous the effort. The Onder Law Firm has represented clients throughout the United States in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation such as Pradaxa, Lexapro and Yasmin/Yaz, where the firm's attorneys held significant leadership roles in the litigation, as well as Actos, DePuy, Risperdal and others. The Onder Law Firm has won more than $300 million in four talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits in St. Louis. Law firms throughout the nation often seek its experience and expertise on complex litigation.