HensonFuerst Uncovers More on Questionable Cancer Treatment Trials at Medical Centers across the United States
Cancer patients in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are exposed to unnecessary medical risks after participating in flawed cancer treatments based on discredited research from Duke University Medical Center
RALEIGH, North Carolina—After launching an investigation into faulty cancer research sponsored by Duke University Medical Center, personal injury law firm HensonFuerst reveals cancer patients who received breast or lung cancer treatments at medical centers and hospitals in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia may have been unnecessarily exposed to potentially dangerous side effects.
As reported by The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, more than 100 cancer patients were enrolled in three clinical trials at Duke University Medical Center based on flawed research of Dr. Anil Potti, a now discredited Duke associate professor. He resigned last fall after his research and embellished credentials came under scrutiny.
“These hospitals may have exposed patients to ineffective and fundamentally flawed cancer treatments, putting them at an increased risk for dangerous and potentially fatal side effects,” attorney David Henson said. “Once again, we are dealing with a large medical center denying wrongdoing and telling patients their health has not been compromised when the facts suggest otherwise.”
According to patients’ claims in The News & Observer article, the cancer clinical trials based on Dr. Potti’s research did nothing to stop tumor growth and even led to blood clots and other serious medical complications. In fact, Dr. Michael Cuffe, Duke’s vice president for medical affairs, said the medical trials should not have been done based on the problems with Dr. Potti’s research.
The article also reported that Duke failed to quickly take actions once Dr. Potti’s research was questioned more than three years ago, and the clinical trials in multiple states were allowed to continue despite serious concerns. Several researchers from other institutions related their concerns about Potti’s research with Duke officials. Biostatisticians at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas voiced their concerns as early as 2007, but it was not until 2009 that Duke stopped the trials. Apparently, Duke officials decided to restart the trials in January 2010, only to stop once again in July 2010. Unfortunately, patients may have received ineffective or potentially dangerous treatments before the clinical trials finally ended.
Which Medical Centers Might Be Involved?
The following medical centers and hospitals in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia may have exposed their patients to ineffective and fundamentally flawed lung and breast cancer treatments, putting them at an increased risk for dangerous and potentially fatal side effects. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the specific cancer trials and locations where the treatments were conducted are:
NCT00545948 - Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (TOP0703)
Sponsors and collaborators: Duke University and Eli Lilly and Company
Florida
- Palm Beach Cancer Institute (West Palm Beach)
Illinois
- The University of Chicago Medical Center (Chicago)
North Carolina
- Presbyterian Healthcare (Charlotte)
- Duke University Medical Center (Durham)
- Maria Parham Hospital (Henderson)
- Scotland HealthCare System/Scotland Memorial Hospital (Laurinburg)
- Southeastern Regional Medical Center/Gibson Cancer Center (Lumberton)
- Duke Raleigh Hospital (Raleigh)
- Johnston Memorial Hospital Authority (Smithfield)
- Columbus County Hospital (Whiteville)
South Carolina
- Beaufort Memorial Hospital (Beaufort)
- Coastal Cancer Center (Myrtle Beach)
Virginia
- Community Memorial Health Center (South Hill)
NCT00509366 - Stage IIIB/IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Sponsors and collaborators: Duke University and Eli Lilly and Company
North Carolina
- Duke University Medical Center (Durham)
- Maria Parham Hospital (Henderson)
- Scotland HealthCare System/Scotland Memorial Hospital (Laurinburg)
- Southeastern Regional Medical Center/Gibson Cancer Center (Lumberton)
- Duke Raleigh Hospital (Raleigh)
South Carolina
- Beaufort Memorial Hospital (Beaufort)
- Coastal Cancer Center (Myrtle Beach)
Virginia
- Community Memorial Health Center (South Hill)
NCT00636441 - Early Stage Breast Cancer
Sponsors and collaborators: Duke University and the Department of Defense
North Carolina
- Duke University Medical Center (Durham)
A Look Back: Duke Physicians Operate with Tainted Instruments
This is not the first time HensonFuerst has helped patients who have been affected by Duke University’s apparent lack of concern for patient safety. As reported in The Herald-Sun, in 2004 more than 3,500 patients learned their surgical procedures were performed using instruments that had been washed with used elevator hydraulic fluid instead of detergent. The patients were left with unanswered questions, unresolved fears of complications, and, for some, a lifetime of pain and disability linked to the tainted instruments. At the time, Duke officials promised to do more to safeguard the safety of its patients.
Patients, medical professionals, and anyone else related to Dr. Potti’s clinical trials are encouraged to contact attorney David Henson at (919) 781-1107.
About HensonFuerst
HensonFuerst, P.A., is a North Carolina-based law firm specializing in catastrophic injury, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, and mass tort cases. For more than 30 years, the lawyers at HensonFuerst have represented those injured by the negligence of others. With successful multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements throughout the state of North Carolina, the team of 11 lawyers and 30 staff members at HensonFuerst offer considerable experience and resources for their clients. For more information about the firm, visit www.HensonFuerst.com.
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Jerry Smith
Phone: (252) 443‐2111
Toll‐Free: (800) 4LAWMED (459-9633)
E‐mail: jsmith@lawmed.com
HensonFuerst Attorneys
Phone: (252) 443‐2111
Toll‐Free: (800) 4LAWMED
www.HensonFuerst.com
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