The parents of a girl born with a serious heart defect recently filed suit
against pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline LLC, the makers of a powerful
anti-nausea drug called Zofran, which they allege caused her condition.
The lawsuit, which seeks compensatory and punitive damages for misrepresentation,
negligence, breach of warranty, concealment, and violations of California
state law, was filed in federal court in San Francisco last week.
Zofran, the brand name for Ondansetron, is a drug designed to treat extreme
nausea. While it is especially effective for patients undergoing chemotherapy
or radiation, Zofran has also been marketed “off-label” as
a safe treatment for morning sickness in pregnant women. However, the
drug was never approved by the FDA for this use, and in 2012, GlaxoSmithKline
pled guilty to criminal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Despite its lack of FDA approval, many doctors continue to prescribe Zofran
to pregnant women. So far, there have been hundreds of reports of birth
defects linked to use of the drug. In spite of these reports, GSK has
not performed any clinical studies on the safety or effectiveness of the
product for uses other than its original intended purpose, nor have they
updated their labeling to reflect the increased risk of serious birth
defects if used during pregnancy. In fact, recent studies have found that
the risk of congenital heart defects is nearly doubled in newborns whose
mothers ingested the drug.
Has Your Child Suffered a Birth Defect from a Dangerous Drug?
Birth defects can be devastating and can have permanent effects on the
rest of your child’s life. As a parent, you have the right to pursue
justice after being misled by doctors and drug companies. The highly-skilled
attorneys at our nationally-recognized law firm are prepared to review
your case during a free consultation. We may be able to help you obtain
the compensation you both need and deserve to ensure the future of your
child’s medical care and wellbeing.
Click here to request your FREE consultation with a Chicago birth injury lawyer from Beam Legal Team.