Law Med Blog

Medical Discovery News: The case against Propofol

May 10, 2012 lawmed No comments

From Medical Discovery News By Norbert Herzog and David Niesel.

Most people had never heard of the drug propofol until Michael Jackson died from an overdose. His doctor was recently convicted and sentenced for being reckless when he administered the general anesthetic.

Since Jackson’s death, several scientific papers have begun urging the US Drug Enforcement Administration to regulate the drug. You may already be asking, though – why would anyone use propofol recreationally?

Within seconds, it acts on a person’s central nervous system, sedating them. A mistake can cause a drop in blood pressure, obstructed airway, respiratory failure, and even death. With such high risks, propofol does seem only useful in medical settings on surgical and intensive care patients who are highly monitored.

Before officials could classify it a controlled substance, they’d have to ask, “Is propofol being abused?” One condition for abuse is first documenting recreational use. Recent scientific … (Continued…)

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Propofol Shortage: The Economic Problem of a Generic Injectable

May 10, 2012 lawmed No comments

From MedCityNews By Frank Vinluan

Propofol drug shortages: The economic problem of a generic injectable

Propofol might best be known as the anesthetic Michael Jackson used inappropriately as a sleeping aid. Administered properly, the drug widely is used in hospitals to sedate patients. It also happens to be part of an industrywide drug shortage affecting hospitals throughout the country.

Injectable drugs maker Hospira (NYSE:HSP) is among the dwindling number of propofol manufacturers. The company recently restarted propofol production after a stoppage at its manufacturing plant in Clayton, North Carolina. The stoppage was voluntary and temporary, CEO Michael Ball said during during the company’s conference call to discuss first quarter financial results. Without going into detail, Ball said that Hospira has “completed corrective action” at the plant and propofol production has restarted. But restarting production isn’t a solution to the industrywide propofol shortage. And it’s not Hospira’s fault. Blame economics.

Three … (Continued…)

ND Doctor In Propofol Rape Case Has Pleas Withdrawn Will Face Trial [VIDEO]

April 06, 2012 lawmed 10 Comments

We told you previously about the case of Dr. Jon Norberg, 41, of Fargo who was accused of raping a woman who was not his patient (turned out to be his wife) after administering the anesthetic propofol to her more than 30 times over an 18 month period. In January, in a deal with prosecutors, he plead guilty to felony reckless endangerment and a misdemeanor count of sexual assault. Compared to rape charges these were a walk in the park.

Norberg was accused of drugging his wife with the anesthetic propofol and sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions. Norberg has claimed his wife consented to receiving the propofol and that both of them agreed upon it as a treatment her chronic pain from an autoimmune disease. His estranged wife, a physician herself, claims otherwise and has painted her husband as a sadistic liar. Despite his plea to the misdemeanor sexual … (Continued…)

Suspended Ca Anesthesiologist Gave Daughter Propofol 500 Times: Hold Judgement

April 02, 2012 lawmed No comments

The California medical board has suspended the license of a doctor accused of giving his daughter hundreds of at-home doses of propofol, the powerful anesthetic that killed Michael Jackson, as a last-ditch, and effective, treatment for her debilitating chronic pain.

In an order filed Thursday, California Medical Board officials said Dr. Robert Markman of Northridge, a retired anesthesiologist who practiced from 1974-2001, is barred from practicing medicine pending a full administrative determination from the Board. He has never been disciplined by the Board in the past and has not been sued for malpractice during his years of practice. Based on the facts as presented in the Board’s order, the Law Med Blog is quite hesitant in passing negative judgment regarding Markman’s actions. While there are generally ethical issues when treating family members, assuming the facts are as stated he may be the best and only chance his daughter has for … (Continued…)

Doc Guilty In Propofol Rape Case Wants To Withdraw Plea

March 20, 2012 lawmed No comments

Dr. Jon Noreberg, 41, of Fargo, the physician who plead guilty to felony reckless endangerment under an Alford plea in a deal reached with prosecutors back in January, now wants to withdraw his plea. An Alford plea means that the defendant does not admit his guilt but agrees that if the case goes to trial the prosecutor has enough evidence for a jury to find him guilty. Regardless, it results in a finding of guilty by the court and is considered a guilty plea.

Norberg was accused of drugging his wife with the anesthetic propofol and sexually assaulting her on multiple occaisions. Norberg has claimed his wife consented to receiving the propofol and that both of them agreed upon it as a treatment her chronic pain from an autoimmune disease. His estranged wife, a physician herself, claims otherwise and has painted her husband as a sadistic liar. Despite his additional … (Continued…)

Nurse Pleads Guilty To Propofol Murder Of Stepfather

February 12, 2012 lawmed No comments

In Dekalb County, Al, prosecutors say 32-year-old Karri Denise Willoughby siphoned money away from her stepfather, Billy Shaw’s, account and stole her mother’s identity for financial gain. When her theft was discovered her access to the accounts was cut off and in response she murdered Shaw they say. On Wednesday, the day after a jury was seated and the morning her trial was to begin on capital murder charges, Willoughby agreed with them and pleaded guilty to a lesser count of murder. She has been sentenced to 20 years.

It was first thought that in 2008 Shaw died of a heart attack. A year later his body was exumed when toxicology results revealed a high concentration of propofol in his blood stream at the time of death. Also found were the drugs vecuronium and succinylcholine, powerful paralytic drugs used in surgery. Willoughby worked as a registered nurse at a Chattanooga, … (Continued…)

Where Has All the Propofol Gone?

January 16, 2012 lawmed No comments

By Kurt Stone OpEdNews.com

Propofol — one of the drugs that led to Michael Jackson’s untimely death — is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Known in some circles as “Milk of Amnesia,” its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically-ventilated patients, and procedural sedation. Propofol — and its generic equivalents — has been widely and successfully administered in hospital operating rooms around the world for nearly 30 years. And, as of June 4, 2010, Teva Pharmaceuticals, the Israeli-based firm that was the major supplier of Propofol, no longer manufactures it. Today, it is almost impossible to find.

Where has all the Propofol gone?

And while we’re at it, where has all the Doxil, Adderall, Mitomycin, Morphine Sulphate, Avalide, Ondansetron, Succinylcholine, Dextrose, B-12 and more than 200 others medicines gone? Shockingly, between 2006 and 2010, drug shortages increased by more than 200% according to a … (Continued…)

Felon Dr. Norberg Defense Of Propofol Use On Wife FAILS [Video]

January 08, 2012 lawmed 1 Comment

In what can only be described as a pathetic attempt to justify what was at best gross medical negligence and unethical behavior, and at worst chemical incapacitation for the purpose of committing serial rape, Dr. Jon Norberg, 41, of Fargo N.D. went on camera Friday, days after pleading guilty to lesser charges of felony reckless endangerment and misdemeanor sexual imposition.

If the public learned anything about propofol from the Michael Jackson case , it is the fact that it should NEVER be administered in someone’s home under ANY circumstances, and that it is a very dangerous drug in untrained hands. The good Dr. Norberg would have us believe that he is somehow qualified and even experienced in the administration of propofol and that a reasonable physician might inject his wife with it over and over to treat an illness. There is not an ounce of truth in this. Not an … (Continued…)

Hospital Propofol Policy Results In $3M Judgement In Patient Death

December 21, 2011 lawmed No comments

Here at the Law Med Blog we have mentioned more than once the minefield institutions create through their ill considered creation of various unnecessary policies and procedures. The incredible irony here is that these P&P are almost always created with the idea they will LIMIT liability and increase quality of care. Often times they serve to create local Standards of Care which deviate from nationally accepted standards. The hospital however can be held liable for violating their own policies, regardless of whether they followed national standards. Once implemented, patients are entitled to be treated under the hospitals published policies.

And this brings us to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, California. A Butte County Superior Court jury Monday ruled the hospital must pay the family of 50 year old Todd Stewart $3 million. Stewart, who died after a failed attempt to replace a faulty lead in an implanted cardiac defibrillator, underwent … (Continued…)

Company Increases Availabillity Of Propofol

October 18, 2011 lawmed No comments

APP Pharmaceuticals increases Propofol production.

From Pharmaceutical Business Review

APP Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals, has increased the availability of its drugs including APP Diprivan (propofol 1%) and APP Propofol 1% (generic Diprivan).

The company is said to have increased the production to supply the US market and meet the clinical needs of health care professionals. Propofol, marketed under the brand name, Diprivan, is a fast-onset sedative-hypnotic agent used for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation.

APP Pharmaceuticals president and CEO John Ducker said in order to maintain a consistent supply of this drug, the company has responded promptly in the face of drug shortages to meet market demand.… (Continued…)

Juries Slap Propofol Companies With Over $280M Damages In Hep C Cases

October 15, 2011 lawmed 1 Comment

Two separate juries have levied a combined total of over $250 Million in punitive damages for 5 plaintiffs in two separate trials. The plaintiffs were suing after they contracted Hepatitis C from what their lawyers argued was contaminated propofol. The defendants were Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Baxter International Inc., manufacturers and distributors of the drug.

Plaintiffs argued that the pharmaceutical companies were negligent when they packaged the propofol in large vials thereby encouraging multiple use of what is supposed to be a single use vial. Propofol is particularly prone to contamination and its formula promotes growth of viruses and bacteria.

Michael Washington and his wife, Josephine, alleged that Mr. Washington was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2007 after he received Propofol from a reused vial at a Las Vegas Endoscopy clinic run by Dr. Dipak Desai. They were awarded $90 Million in punitive damages Friday. The same jury awarded … (Continued…)

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