| The acne remedy Accutane, a synthetic form of vitamin A used to treat serious forms of acne that can cause scarring, has been the subject of extensive litigation because of a long list of side effects including birth defects, suicide, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Suffered harm from Accutane? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.
The US manufacturer of Accutane, Hoffman La Roche, is part of the international conglomerate known as “The La Roche Group,” with affiliates in 150 countries. “The La Roche Group” is estimated to be the seventh largest pharmaceutical company in the world. Accutane is one of Hoffman La Roche’s top sellers with estimated annual sales of $1.2 billion. Accutane is also one of the 3 drugs on the market with the most reports of adverse side effects, and this has led to extensive litigation. Lawsuits have been brought against Hoffman La Roche for alleged adverse reactions caused by Accutane including suicides, birth defects, and gastrointestinal disorders.
One suit against Hoffman La Roche has been filed by a 33-year-old mother who suffered severe depression when she took Accutane and had a child with severe birth defects. At least one appeals court (New Jersey) has ruled that Hoffman La Roche cannot be liable for birth defects caused by Accutane, because Hoffman La Roche has been warning both health care providers and patients about the risk for many years. Patients may still have claims against health care providers, clinics, or others who prescribed Accutane unnecessarily, did not warn of side effects, or did not monitor the patient adequately during treatment.
- The family of Charles Bishop, a 15-year-old boy who crashed a small plane into a Tampa skyscraper after taking Accutane for 8 months.
- The family of Steven Wertheimer, a 14-year-old who was killed when he stood in front of a computer train next to the Palo Alto High School football field.
- The family of a 22-year-old Virginia man who committed suicide.
- The family of a 21-year-old woman who attempted suicide while taking Accutane.
Lawsuits for other injuries include a suit by a 28-year-old man who had most of his colon removed as a result of inflammatory bowel disease contracted after taking Accutane.
Suffered harm from Accutane? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. |