Pharmaceutical Injuries - Accutane

Have You Sustained a Personal Injury from Accutane?

Accutane, an acne medication manufactured by Hoffman-LaRoche and approved by the FDA in 1982, is used in the treatment of resistant nodular cystic, the most severe form of acne. The drug has proven to be very effective in attacking acne in patients who have not responded well to more conventional treatments such as topical agents or antibiotics. However, doctors must carefully monitor patients taking Accutane because of certain adverse reactions. Frequent blood tests are required to ensure that the drug is not damaging the liver. Additionally, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant must not take or handle Accutane as severe birth defects may result.

In 1998, the Food and Drug Administration advised doctors who prescribe Accutane to watch their patients for signs of depression. Afterward, the Hoffman-LaRoche, the maker of Accutane, notified doctors that the drug ``may cause depression, psychosis, and, rarely, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide.''

However, the knowledge of the potential danger associated with Accutane did not become widely known until a Congressman's son committed suicide. Rep. Bart Stupak says his 17-year-old son's suicide earlier this year may be linked to the popular acne medicine. Bart Stupak Jr., known as "B.J.," shot himself in the head with his father's gun in the early hours of May 14. Stupak was popular in school, a football player, and killed himself after a prom-night party.

In assessing how many potential suicide cases could be linked to Accutane, Rep. Stupak stated, "We are up over 100 reports, that's just what is coming in to us, so I believe there are probably over a thousand cases," Stupak said. "The average time is 88 days from when you start taking it, and the effect is very sudden.... You are doing strange things at 3 a.m. and you are dead at 7 a.m."

The FDA has received reports of 66 suicides and 1,373 cases of psychiatric problems among Accutane users as of early December, 2000 according to a report in USA Today. Accutane's package warning first stated potential relationship between Accutane and depression in 1986. Although French officials required that Hoff-LaRoche add the risk of suicide to the package insert of the European version of Accutane in March 1997, the FDA did not require such a change in the USA until 1999.

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Personal Injury

Injuries to one's person can occur in numerous different ways. In addition to car & automobile accidents, there are many other examples of situations that would provide a legal basis for personal injury claims. These include negligence towards others, as in medical malpractice claims and patient neglect in nursing home and healthcare facilities. Additionally, any person or business can be negligent of adequatley maintaining their property which may result in slips and falls or other accidents; and criminal incidents that may occur because of negligent security. Also, people can be injured as the result of intentional attacks, such as in the cases of dog bites or assault and battery.

Injuries to property can happen due to theft/vandalism, embezzlement, and negligence, while injuries to one's reputation typically occurs as the result of libel or slander.

When a person suffers an injury to his person, rights, reputation, or property, they may be entitled to compensation and should consult a lawyer immediately. In addition to Personal Injury claims needing to be filed within specified time periods, over time, critical evidence can dissipate making claims harder to prove.

An injured party may be entitled to recover damages for loss of earnings capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses, including both current and projected future losses.