An Alabama family is suing the makers of Zofran to gain compensation for daughter’s congenital birth defects that will require extended medical care and surgeries.

In 1991, the Food and Drug Administration approved Zofran to treat the most severe kind of nausea. The drug was meant for cancer patients who required chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Zofran, made the decision to engage in the off-label marketing of Zofran, touting it as “wonder drug” for morning sickness.

A family in Alabama is suing the makers of Zofran, alleging that they weren’t properly informed of the risks that led to their daughter’s birth defects.

Pre-Natal Zofran Exposure And Heart Defects

Ciara Legg’s daughter had open heart surgery before her first birthday.
Image: Adam

Ciara Legg used a generic version of Zofran to treat symptoms of morning sickness during her first and second trimester. She gave birth to a baby girl on Jan. 23, 2013. When her daughter was born, it was discovered that she suffered from congenital anomalies.

Legg’s daughter had open-heart surgery before her first birthday. She was only 8 months old. Doctors have said that she will need medical care and additional surgeries throughout her life.

The Legg family was never informed about Zofran’s potential to cause cardiac problems, which is the most common defect linked to the drug.  If she had been told about the drug’s potential to cause birth defects, Legg said she never would have taken it while pregnant. The family has since filed a lawsuit.

Taking Legal Action To Cover Medical Expenses

The Legg family is pursuing legal assistance in order to gain enough money to help cover their daughter’s medical bills.
Image: Bet

In the lawsuit, GlaxoSmithKline’s desire to have doctors prescribe the drug as a morning sickness medication is described as a “fraudulent marketing campaign.” The Legg family claims they weren’t properly informed of the risks associated with Zofran.

Because of the fact that their daughter will need additional surgeries down the line, the Legg family has decided to take legal action in an effort to gain “compensatory and punitive damages” and “equitable relief.” The money will be used to pay medical, incidental and hospital expenses.

“As a direct and proximate result of GSK’s conduct, the plaintiffs and their daughter have suffered and incurred harm including severe and permanent pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, and other economic and noneconomic damages, and will require more constant and continuous medical monitoring and treatment than had they not been exposed to the drug,” according to the legal complaint.

The drug manufacturer is allegedly aware of more than 200 children born with birth defects after their mothers used Zofran. Many families caring for a child with birth defects are struggling to afford the life-saving but costly medical procedures.

If you took Zofran while pregnant and if your child was born with birth defects, then you might be entitled to compensation for this medical side effect.

Request a free, no-obligation case evaluation now to see if you qualify.

The post Alabama Parents Sue Pharmaceutical Company For Heart Problems Linked To Zofran appeared first on Citizens Report.

A Virginia woman named Kelly Blumenthal has filed a lawsuit against Zofran, the morning sickness drug that allegedly caused her son’s severe heart defects.

Health professionals estimate 90 percent of pregnant women experience symptoms of nausea or vomiting. Kelly Blumenthal was no different.

During the early stages of her pregnancy, Blumenthal began using a generic version of the off-label morning sickness drug Zofran in 2014.

On January 2, 2015, her son was born with multiple heart defects, a lung defect and an intestinal issue. In addition to developing a program to support others dealing with similar circumstances, Blumenthal has filed a suit to fight against the drug that changed her family forever.

A Son’s Birth Defects, A Mother’s Broken Heart

Blumenthal’s son suffers from atrioventricular canal defect, which caused holes to develop in the center of his heart.
Image: Hx Benefit

Although doctors believed he wouldn’t make it through the pregnancy, Blumenthal’s son pushed through. However, she knew his life wouldn’t be easy. Originally planning to name him Landon, Blumenthal decided to change his name to Finley, meaning “warrior.”

Blumenthal’s son came into the world with a list of congenital problems, but the most severe is called atrioventricular canal defect. The diagnosis means that Finn has a hole in the center of his heart.

The condition affects the natural regulation blood flow and requires costly open heart surgeries. If untreated, the condition can cause serious complications including enlargement of the heart, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and pneumonia. Finn had open heart surgery before his first birthday.

Additionally, Finn has a double outlet right ventricle defect. The condition involves a difference in the structure of the heart, causing the two main arteries to connect to only the right chamber rather than both pumping chambers.

Blumenthal’s 1-year-old boy also suffers from  heterotaxy of the lungs, which is a misalignment of these essential organs in the chest. Finn’s lung has been deteriorating, and his mother needs to constantly monitor his blood oxygen levels. The heterotaxy is likely also linked to Finn’s malrotation of the intestines, in which his small bowel is found on the right side of the abdomen.

Supporting Others And Fighting The Industry

In addition to pursuing legal assistance to get compensation for Finn’s medical expenses, Blumenthal created a support group for families with sick children.
Image: Fredericksburg

There is no doubt that Blumenthal’s heart was broken when she discovered her son suffered from so many medical problems.  Finn’s short life has been filled with expensive surgeries, endless tubes, heavy oxygen tanks and long nights in the hospital.

Through a Facebook page called Prayers for Finn, Blumenthal has created a community of over 26,000 members that offers mutual support and comforting donations to families with sick children. It has been instrumental in helping her get through the surgeries.

On September 28, 2015, Blumenthal took another action. She decided to fight against the drug that allegedly caused her son’s medical issues. She named Glenmark Generics Inc., USA and GlaxoSmithKline LLC in her complaint, taking on both companies that may have had a hand in causing her son’s condition.

But Blumenthal is not alone. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of Zofran, with about 200 cases consolidated in a multi-district litigation in Boston.

If you took Zofran while pregnant and if your child was born with birth defects, then you might be entitled to compensation. Complete a free, no obligation case evaluation now to see if you qualify.

The post Mother Seeks Justice For Son’s Heart And Lung Problems Caused By Zofran appeared first on Citizens Report.