Baxter Healthcare is the company that makes a product called Baxter Heparin, which is a blood thinner. Almost 50% of the heparin drug used in America is manufactured by Baxter. Recently, there have been numerous reports about people falling ill (some seriously so) after having been administered Baxter Heparin. And when reports of 4 deaths caused due to heparin were received, the FDA issued warnings against the use of Baxter Heparin. Subsequently, Baxter Healthcare voluntarily recalled their multiple-dose injectable heparin from the market. So what does this have to do with you? Well, if you or a loved one has been administered Baxter Heparin, your life could be in danger! Uses of Heparin Heparin is a blood thinner that helps in the prevention of blood clots. It acts as an anticoagulant, thereby thinning your blood so that clots do not form. The expansion of existing blood clots can also be prevented through heparin. However, heparin cannot break down clots that already exist in the blood, but it does enhance the body’s natural abilities so that the body is then able to break down existing blood clots on its own. Due to all these beneficial actions of heparin, it is routinely administered to those who are undergoing surgery so that the formation of blood clots can be prevented. Heparin is also used in many other critical health care situations where the prevention of blood clots may be vital to the survival of the patient. Another area where heparin is widely used is in dialysis. In fact, the very availability of heparin is the main reason for the popularity of clinical dialysis. Even though a dialysis patient can suffer from different heparin side effects, the advantages of the drug far outweigh these heparin side effects. It is estimated that up to 1 million units of heparin may be used every year for dialysis, many of which can be Baxter’s Heparin. The Problem With Baxter’s Heparin The main active ingredient in heparin is an enzyme that is obtained from the intestines of pigs. Baxter healthcare procures this enzyme from a Chinese plant. According to FDA reports, they admit that they did not thoroughly inspect this Chinese manufacturing plant that provides the heparin enzyme to Baxter. It is this china heparin that seems to be the potential cause of recent adverse health reports against heparin. Thus, usually there is no denying the benefits of heparin in surgery and dialysis, but if you or anyone you know has been administered Baxter heparin and have been injured due to it, you may be eligible for compensation and damages. Get in touch with our heparin experts to find out more!