Action actor Chuck Norris and his wife, Gena Norris, have pulled their lawsuit against gadolinium manufacturer Bracco Imaging. Neither side received any settlement, according to a Jan. 16 announcement.
Norris filed the suit against the manufacturer in November 2017, along with several other makers of gadolinium-based contrast agents. It alleged that Gena suffered severe side effects from the gadolinium administered to her before she received an MRI scan. The pair was seeking more than $10 million in damages.
In its statement, the Italy-based company said it is “pleased” to announce that the lawsuit has been voluntarily dismissed and is now closed. Both sides also agreed to pay their own legal costs.
“Bracco takes patient safety very seriously and stands behind the safety of all of its products, including the MR contrast agents ProHance® (Gadoteridol) Injection, 279.3 mg/mL and MultiHance,” the company said in the Jan. 16 statement. Both contrast agents are used in adult and pediatric imaging to better visualize lesions and abnormal activity.
Gadolinium has been a controversial topic, with some claiming the substance can remain in the body long after its administered, leading to difficult-to-diagnose pain and, in some cases, a rare condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Others have challenged that notion, claiming the current data does not support the existence of gadolinium deposition disease.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.