Zofran Lawsuit Alleges Exposure To Drug Caused Infant To Develop Tetralogy Of Fallot

December 01, 2015 – – ZofranLegal.com reports on another lawsuit which has been filed against pharmaceutical conglomerate GlaxoSmithKline alleging that their anti-nausea drug Zofran is linked to the development of birth defects when exposed to unborn babies in the womb. This particular suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois under number 3:15-cv-00787 by parents from Illinois. Details within the suit further allege that due to the fact that the mother used Zofran to combat her morning sickness during the pregnancy, the child developed Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex and serious combination of several congenital heart defects.

The parents stated through details in their court documents that the mother was initially given Zofran intravenously, and later used the drug in tablet form throughout her first trimester. The first trimester is a time when morning sickness is most prevalent, however; it also happens to be a time when the fetus does much of its heart tissue development. The couple gave birth to son in 2006, and the boy was almost instantly diagnosed with heart defects. The parents were made aware that the boy would require open heart surgery and several other medical procedures in an attempt to correct some of the defects.

Since his initial diagnosis, physicians discovered that the boy had developed what was called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involved a total of four congenital heart defects. The defects are known to be potentially permanent or even fatal. The parents allege that exposure to Zofran while growing in utero caused their son to develop these defects, and they noted a series of epidemiological studies which also supported their argument.

Unfortunately, the parents filing this lawsuit are not alone in their argument. Nationally, many parents have stepped forward with similar allegations, filing their own lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline which also discuss birth defects and connect the development of these defects to Zofran exposure. The defects most commonly noted include atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect, cleft lip and palate, transposition of the greater vessels, clubfoot, kidney defects, and tetralogy of fallot. Many of these suits also point to the fact that GSK’s anti-nausea drug Zofran was never approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat morning sickness or pregnant women. It was never tested for safety on this consumer group, either.

The FDA approved Zofran specifically to treat those suffering from nausea and vomiting episodes after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or anesthesia. Despite this fact, allegations state that after this approval, GSK marketed the drug as a morning sickness treatment to expectant mothers and OB/Gyns across the nation. Many allegations also note that GSK continued to market the drug in this way despite receiving reports that Zofran use by pregnant women was, in fact, causing children to be born with defects. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology estimated that Zofran was prescribed to around 1 million pregnant women nationally over the course of 1 year.

The Zofran birth defect lawsuits have now been consolidated to assist with the litigation process, making things run more smoothly and efficiently. It is expected, however, that as the current cases await trial, others will continue to be filed. The attorneys at Monheit Law are working to help ensure that anyone who was prescribed Zofran while pregnant and who subsequently gave birth to a baby with defects will have the option of looking into their legal rights. These individuals and the children involved may be entitled to substantial compensation. Monheit Law is offering free legal consultations for those affected at this time.

To request additional information concerning Zofran birth defect lawsuits, or to ask questions, contact Attorney Michael Monheit of Monheit Law by calling 877-620-8411.

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Contact ZofranLegal.com:

Michael Monheit
1-877-620-8411
michael@monheit.com
1368 Barrowdale Road, Rydal, PA 19046

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