People in Ohio may be at risk of injury or serious illness linked to e-cigarette use, commonly known as vaping. After a spate of reported vaping-related illnesses across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning about an unknown lung disease. Doctors and researchers nationwide are struggling to diagnose at least 450 people in 33 states with a clear illness linked to vaping. In many cases, the vape cartridges involved may have been knock-offs purchased on the street with unknown ingredient lists.
Five people across the country have reportedly died of illnesses linked to vaping even as physicians struggle to find a diagnosis. Some people may even have experienced misdiagnosis after reporting confusing symptoms associated with their lungs. They were told they likely had bronchitis or a viral respiratory infection and sent home. In most cases, the people affected by the illness have admitted to vaping products containing THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Many of these THC cartridges are not sold by licensed vendors. Because cannabis is still illegal in much of the country, the vape cartridges involved were often sold on the street or online. Some of them may have been contaminated with an unspecified substance.
The FDA said that it had tested 120 samples of vaping products and had yet to find any compounds that could explain the mysterious illness. Of course, unlicensed or black-market goods were less likely to make their way into the hands of the FDA.
When people are misdiagnosed and serious illness goes undetected, patients may lose out on valuable time to treat their real disease. As a result, they may experience a worsened health condition or even death. People who have suffered due to a doctor's failure to diagnose may consult with a medical malpractice attorney about their options to pursue compensation.