Widow files suit against doctor, pharmaceutical companies

Jennifer Walker-Journey — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:38:06 +0000

Wim Michna understood the power of medicine. He was a physician in Marin County, California. In the early 2000s, he received an arterial bypass and shortly thereafter was prescribed Digitek, also known as digoxin, by his personal doctor to strengthen and regulate his heartbeat. He remained on the medication for two years until another doctor advised him to stop. While taking the medication, Dr. Michna’s kidneys failed and he suffered from heart palpitations, dizziness, weakness and other symptoms that made another physician order a blood test. The test revealed what the symptoms were alluding to – that Dr. Michna was suffering from the ill effects of digoxin poisoning. The level of digoxin in his body was several times higher than the maximum allowable. It was too late to save him. Dr. Michna died just months after the toxicity was identified. He was 80.

Digitek is a medication widely used to treat heart conditions that cannot be controlled by other medications. Incorrect dosing of the medication can be dangerous, and sometimes fatal. In April 2008, Digitek’s manufacturers issued a nationwide recall because the pills contained twice the amount of the active ingredient. The oversized pills posed a serious risk of digoxin toxicity especially in patients with renal failure.

On behalf of her husband, Rosina Michna has filed a lawsuit alleging medical negligence against the doctor who initially prescribed Digitek but didn’t monitor his blood levels. She also is suing the numerous pharmaceutical companies involved in the manufacture, marketing and distributing of Digitek for negligence, according to the Marin Independent Journal.

An initial hearing of the lawsuit is set for April 27, 2009.

SOURCE: Digitek Recall › Widow files suit against doctor, pharmaceutical companies

Digitek Recall » digoxin poisoning

Widow files suit against doctor, pharmaceutical companies