Medications prescribed by physicians are meant to heal us. How can they be defective?

That's a questions thousands of people ask every year when they discover a drug prescribed for them by their trusted physician has side effects that can be devastating, even fatal.

Every new drug developed by any pharmaceutical company must undergo exhaustive clinical research, trials and testing. During this process, the drug is examined for its safety, side effects, toxicity and its ability to treat the designated ailment or condition. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the results and determines if the drug will get the FDA stamp of approval, allowing it to be sold commercially.

However, the FDA approval does not mean that the manufacturer can't be held responsible if the drug they produce causes serious side effects. Drug manufacturers are required to take every measure possible in ensuring the safety of their products. When a drug company fails to disclose any side effects, defects in the drug or other complications associated with the use of any given drug, it can be considered negligence and legal action can be taken against the drug company for defective drugs.

Here are just a few of the current medications, their symptoms and side effects that you should be wary of.

Byetta, Trasylol, Ortho Evra birth control patches, pain pumps and drug-eluting stents are also among the medications on the defective drug list at the moment.

Injuries and death due to defective prescription drugs and medical devices can be devastating. We want to trust that every pharmaceutical company has done what they were supposed to. Unfortunately, that isn't always the case.