GSK Faces Zofran Birth Defect Lawsuit Over Newborn Baby’s Death

SAN DIEGO - July 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Original article at http://zofranlawsuit.help/gsk-faces-zofran-birth-defect-lawsuit/

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Zofran maker GlaxoSmithKline, by the family of a newborn baby who died from heart defects allegedly caused by side effects of the anti-nausea medication, which the mother used during pregnancy as a treatment for morning sickness. If you took Zofran while pregnant, and your child was born with a severe heart defect or another type of birth defect, consult an experienced Zofran lawyer today to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a Zofran birth defect lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, in order to pursue financial compensation for your child’s injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.

Potential Side Effects of Zofran Use in Pregnancy

The Zofran wrongful death suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on June 10, by Patrick and Valerie Reagan, as a result of the 2006 death of their newborn daughter, Molly Reagan. In their complaint, the Reagan family indicates that Valerie was prescribed the anti-nausea drug Zofran by her doctor in an effort to combat morning sickness during her pregnancy. Nine days before Molly was born, on March 17, 2006, the baby’s heart reportedly began to decelerate, and after being delivered, she was diagnosed with a heart defect impacting the right ventricle of the heart. The newborn baby was placed in an intensive care unit, where she died just three days after her birth.

Zofran Prescribed Off-Label to Pregnant Women

Although Molly’s death occurred nearly ten years ago, it was only recently that the Reagan family became aware that their daughter’s heart defect may have been caused by the mother’s use of Zofran during pregnancy. While Zofran has not been approved by the FDA as a treatment for morning sickness, GlaxoSmithKline is suspected of marketing the anti-nausea medication as an off-label treatment for pregnant women suffering from a severe form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum. As a result, many doctors and consumers believe that Zofran is safe for use among pregnant women, despite a growing body of research that has identified a host of pregnancy risks allegedly linked to Zofran use in pregnancy.

Research Regarding Alleged Zofran Pregnancy Risks

In a study published the same year as Molly Reagan’s death, researchers from Hong Kong found that Zofran (ondansetron) may be capable of crossing the placenta when taken during pregnancy, possibly putting unborn babies at risk for birth defects. In November 2011, a study published in the journal Birth Defects Research Part A: Clinical and Molecular Teratology indicated that babies exposed to Zofran in utero may be 2.37 times more likely to suffer a cleft palate birth defect, and additional studies have highlighted the risk of heart birth defects allegedly associated with Zofran use by pregnant women. Unfortunately, the FDA has yet to issue a specific warning regarding Zofran use in pregnancy, despite the fact that roughly one million pregnant women use the drug or its generic equivalent off-label every year.

An Experienced Zofran Lawyer Can Help

According to allegations raised in the Reagan’s lawsuit, GlaxoSmithKline illegally promoted Zofran as an off-label treatment for pregnant women, without providing adequate warnings about the potential link between Zofran and heart birth defects when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. The complaint accuses GSK of failure to warn, gross negligence, designing a defective drug, fraudulent promotion, negligence, fraud by concealment, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, inflicting emotional distress, breach of warranty, and loss of consortium. If you believe your child has suffered birth defects from Zofran, contact a knowledgeable Zofran attorney to explore your possible compensation options.

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