Law firm cites Phospho-Soda package change

The Laszlo & Associates law firm says C.B. Fleet Company has removed the "bowel cleanser" indication from the packaging for its nonprescription laxative after dozens of lawsuits were filed by people who suffered "acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease" after using the product as a bowel cleanser prior to colonoscopies and surgical procedures. In an Aug. 9 release, New York-based Laszlo says it is among the law firms representing clients from more than 20 states in suits against Lynchburg, Va.-based Fleet stemming from use of Phospho-Soda as a bowel cleanser. Following an FDA safety alert in May 2006, the firm recommended "follow the special instructions from your doctor exactly" when using its oral sodium phosphate products for bowel cleansing. FDA's announcement cited an association between bowel cleansers and acute phosphate nephropathy, a type of acute renal failure (1"The Tan Sheet" May 15, 2006, p. 10)...