17°c Overcast
21°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Judge approves lawsuit against Paxil maker
VANCOUVER -- A British Columbia mother, whose daughter was born with a hole in her heart after taking prescribed anti-depressants during pregnancy, will lead a class-action lawsuit against a pharmaceutical giant.
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has ruled Faith Gibson can proceed with her lawsuit against the maker of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline Inc., alleging the drug causes birth defects.
"We estimate there are more than 200 children across Canada who were born with cardiovascular defects because their mothers were on Paxil during pregnancy," said David Klein, one of the lawyers representing Gibson.
"The information from GlaxoSmithKline was totally inadequate with respect to using the drug while pregnant."
Gibson's daughter, Meah Bartram, was born just two weeks before the company sent a letter to doctors in September 2005 warning that taking the drug during pregnancy could increase the chances of cardiovascular defects.
The cautionary letter cited early results of a study that found "ventricular septal defects" were possible in women who had taken Paxil during pregnancy. It suggested doctors heed that information when considering using it to treat pregnant women.
From the time the product was made available in Canada in 1993, it bore a generic product label that noted it should not be used during pregnancy "unless the potential benefit to the patient outweighs the possible risk factors."
In winter 2006, the company amended the product label to much more thoroughly outline the potential problems that might arise.
"The plaintiffs allege that GSK knew or ought to have known of the risk before then," says the court ruling released on Dec. 4.
Klein said prior to the label change, there were reports of birth defects in smaller case studies, as well as in studies on similar products. "It's been known for decades," he argued. "The warnings could have and should have been much stronger."
A notice will go out across Canada notifying people of the lawsuit, although a trial isn't expected for a couple years.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 6, 2012 A15
Fact Check
Have you found an error, or know of something we’ve missed in one of our stories? Please use the form below and let us know.
More Your Health
- Back to Top
- Return to Your Health
More Your Health
(1 of 5 articles for today)
Health Highlights: May 25, 2013
9:00 AM 0Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
'Nanoparticle' Flu Vaccine ...
Poll
Most Popular Your Health
- PC white grape juice recalled nationally over undeclared sulphites
- Habit reforming
- CT-scans: weigh negative and positive effects
- Baker's cyst A sign of something else
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- WHO warns Saudi coronavirus may be spreading; calls for urgent search for source
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Toxic drug that was abandoned in development offered for sale online to athletes
- Reduced urinary flow a reality for older men
- Drugs for enlarged prostate, baldness may boost risk of prostate cancer
- Smoke sales forbidden at pharmacies, health facilities starting May 31
- Canada lifts lifetime ban on gay men giving blood, but some restrictions remain
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Over one million affected by boil-water advisory in Montreal
- New Brunswick discouraging new family doctors from practising: medical residents
- Measles outbreaks flourish in UK years after discredited research tied measles shot to autism
- Baker's cyst A sign of something else
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- CT-scans: weigh negative and positive effects
- Three companies recall antipsychotic drug quetiapine: Health Canada says
- Baby delivery: safe haven baby drop-off sites open in Edmonton hospitals
- Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy: Q&A
- Smoke sales forbidden at pharmacies, health facilities starting May 31
- Pharmacy assistant who found diluted cancer drugs says label raised questions
- Auditor general takes aim at residential schools, diabetes prevention
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Hockey commentator Kelly Hrudey shares daughter's struggle with mental illness
- Biomedical engineer designs exercises, tests to battle Alzheimer's
- Baker's cyst A sign of something else
- No evidence cycle helmet laws reduce head injuries: study
- Canada lifts lifetime ban on gay men giving blood, but some restrictions remain
- CT-scans: weigh negative and positive effects
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Canadian dies with aid of doctor in Zurich; wished it could have been in Canada
- Avoid herpes -- make love like a porcupine
- Three companies recall antipsychotic drug quetiapine: Health Canada says
- Measles outbreaks flourish in UK years after discredited research tied measles shot to autism
- Avoid allergen triggers to keep guests safe when barbecuing this summer
- Vitamin C and lysine proven to keep arteries healthy
- Biomedical engineer designs exercises, tests to battle Alzheimer's
- Adrenal fatigue can have significant impact
- Kidney problems price we pay for progress
- Natural medicine best for lowering cholesterol
- Canada lifts lifetime ban on gay men giving blood, but some restrictions remain
- CT-scans: weigh negative and positive effects
- Hockey commentator Kelly Hrudey shares daughter's struggle with mental illness
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Knee repair? Study finds physical therapy as good as surgery for torn cartilage, arthritis
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.