Community Corner
Attorney General Files Grand Jury Request to Investigate Michigan Meningitis Deaths
Michigan Pain Specialists in Brighton was one of four Michigan facilities that received shipments of tainted steroid medication suspected of causing the meningitis outbreak.
Attorney General Bill Schuette requested a grand jury be convened to investigate whether New England Compounding Center (NECC), broke state laws when it distributed tainted steroid injections to patients in clinics in four Michigan counties, including Livingston.
The tainted steroid injections led to an outbreak of fungal meningitis in 20 states. Michigan leads the nation in patients affected by the outbreak, with 259 infections and 14 deaths recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Four of the deaths have been Livingston County residents.
"Hundreds of Michigan citizens and their families have endured terrible pain and deaths of loved ones suffering from illnesses caused by these tainted steroid injections," Schuette said in a news release. "This investigation is necessary uncover the truth as to how this unspeakable tragedy happened and to restore public faith in our healthcare system. We will discover what went wrong, bring bad actors to justice, and then work to implement new protections to ensure tragedies like this never happen again."
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Schuette filed the formal petition Tuesday with the Court of Appeals. The Court will review the petition and determine whether to appoint a Circuit Court Judge to lead a confidential multi-county grand jury investigation against the Massachusetts company.
Last October, NECC issued a recall of all its products currently in circulation that were produced and distributed from its facility in Massachusetts. More information about the recall, including a list of affected medications can be found at http://www.neccrx.com.
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Following verified reports that NECC was responsible for the meningitis outbreak, the company's license was suspended and was forced to cease operations in Michigan.
Sen. Joe Hune (R-Hamburg), who has urged Shuette to press charges against the steroid manufacturer several times, thanked him for his recent actions in a news release.
““This company and their drugs have devastated many Michigan families, and it’s time they be held accountable for their actions,” Hune said.
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