Drug manufacturers are ultimately liable for any injuries from their medications

Prescription and Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications are meant to enhance health and bring relief from ailments, but sometimes, a drug that is intended to help instead causes injury. This may occur because clinical trials usually are not large enough to determine increased risks for contracting rare diseases, when drugs are prescribed to the wrong patients or when co-prescribed with other drugs.

Drug manufacturers, pharmacists and doctors have a responsibility to ensure that the drugs they prescribe their patients do not cause harm. Some drugs have dangerous side effects, while others have the potential to cause long-term damage. These drugs are often the subjects of later recalls. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a regulatory role in approving and monitoring their safety after approval of a drug, the manufacturer is ultimately liable for any injuries from their medications.