Tylenol's Case Summary

DOI: 6/12/2014. Patient is a 59-year-old right-handed male machine operator who sustained work-related injuries to his right arm, shoulder and neck when his right hand got caught in a mixer. As per office notes dated 9/6/16, the patient returns complains of continued neck pain with burning hot pain extending into the forearm down to the hand along the C6 and C7 distribution with numbness and tingling in the hand. The patient has undergone multiple medications, physical therapy, TEN both in physical therapy and home use. It was also noted that the pateint denies having cognitive behavioral therapy. The provider notes, that it would be appropriate as based on the history including postoperative right forearm fracture repair and forearm open reduction and internal fixation of the right distal radius that an additional surgery to the right arm and continue physical therapy, yet continues to have swelling

Based on the progress report dated 02/29/16 by Dr. Naraghi, the patient reports worsening of her right lower extremity with pain, numbness and weakness.

Based on the medical report dated 01/03/17, the patient presents for pain/dysfunction of the right wrist. IW states repetitive heavy lifting and complains of numbness, tinging and weakness.

Diagnoses are cervical radiculopathy, right shoulder pain, nondisplaced fracture of the greater tuberosity of the right humerus and right shoulder bursitis. He has reached maximal recovery for his right shoulder. MD is concerned that the elbow and hand pain are related more to his neck as he has a history of cervical radiculopathy and his symptoms are more of tightness than pain that can be localized. He has had epidural injections in the past for left sided radiculopathy. An updated MRI is requested. If there are right-sided findings, he will be sent for possible injection for the upper extremity pain. Otherwise, he will be sent for a second opinion for his continued

In late 1975, due to competition, Tylenol lowered its price and heavily marketed its product. By 1981, Tylenol increased its revenues from $50 million to $400 million. It was the most popular off the shelve medication that people used. Its market share was about 37% and for Johnson and Johnson, it accounted for about 17-18% of net earnings. For Johnson and Johnson, it was one of the most popular product that they produced. However, during late 1982, hospitals in Chicago area received around 700 calls from people about Tylenol due to medical emergencies. There were also reports that many people had died due to the medicine.

he Tylenol crisis is far away from comparing with the Vioxx. In the case of Tylenol, the Johnson & Johnson Company was the victim of an unfair attack that targets its consumers in order to sabotage the company reputation. That is why the organization undertook many approaches to handle the situation in an open communication in effort to explain to the public what happened and regain the consumer’s trust. By contrast, in the Vioxx scenario, the company was the instigator of the fraud. They use manipulation and lies in order to make money regardless of people’s lives. Unlike the Johnson & Johnson Company, the Vioxx tried to hide information and force pharmacies and physicians to prescribe and sell the dangerous product. After I read the article,

In 1982, tragedy struck the Chicagoland area when several people died from taking Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. Johnson & Johnson’s responsive recall of over 31 million bottles of Tylenol prompted a movement that made over-the-counter-medications in addition to millions of other consumer goods tamperproof. General Robert Wood Johnson’s credo— responsibility to the consumers, healthcare professionals, employees, community, then stakeholders, proved to be a moral compass for the organization (Markel, 2014).

O: Left arm inspection of left arm, hand, wrist and fingers, no edema, discoloration, or atrophy noted. Palpation of area produced no pain; full ROM; radial and ulnar pulse

The patient has a Carpal Tunnel Syndrome if there is pain in palm, thumb, index and middle fingers, sometimes pain in wrist, forearm and upper arm.

Based on the latest medical report dated 06/10/16 by Dr. Whalen, the patient complains of neck pain and left arm

Based on the latest progress report dated 02/10/16, the patient continues to complain of significant pain in his right lateral elbow. He has been compliant with weight restrictions. He is using his left arm mostly. There is pain during therapy.

Based on the progress report dated 06/02/16, the patient presents for evaluation of her left wrist. She is still having a lot of symptoms. She did have a repeat nerve study which showed normal.

He complains of constant left elbow and wrist pain, which radiates from the left elbow to the finger tips with numbness. Pain is rated as 5/10. He takes ibuprofen 800mg with some relief. He reports intermittent numbness into

It all started on the morning of September 29, 1982. A 12 year old girl by the name of Mary Kellermen from Elk Grove Village, Chicago took some an extra strength Tylenol capsule to cure a sore throat and a runny nose. By 7 o’clock the next morning, Mary was dead. That same day a 27 year old postal worker by the name of Adam Janus from Arlington Heights, Illinois, was said to have died of from a massive heart attack. Janus’ brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Theresa, rushed to his home to grieve amongst their loved ones. After a while, his brother and sister-in-law both experienced a headache and both took a Tylenol extra-strength capsule or two from the same bottle Adam used earlier that day. Stanley died that same day and Theresa died two days later.

Although crises situations happen, all situations are not doomed to failure. For instance, prior to its crisis, Johnson & Johnson’s Tylenol was the most successful over-the-counter product in America (Harris, Hart, Hubbard, Jurgensen, & Wells, n.d.). An absolute leader in painkiller, Tylenol accounted for a 37 percent market share, outselling its competitors (Harris et al, n.d.). During the fall of 1982, a malevolent person or persons, presumably unknown, replaced Tylenol Extra-Strength capsules with an altered version of the medication (Harris et al, n.d.) Unbeknownst to the corporation, this unknown person(s) replaced the capsules with cyanide-laced capsules, resealed the packages, and deposited them onto the shelves of a least a half-dozen food stores within the Chicago area (Harris et at, n.d.). As a result, several unexpecting people died a horrible death (Harris et al, n.d.).