Recently, a jury in St. Louis awarded a Minnesota girl $38 million in damages after she was injured during birth by the anti-epileptic drug Depakote.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, in May, a jury awarded the 12-year-old girl a total of $23 million in punitive damages and $15 million in compensatory damages.
The girl’s mother reportedly took Depakote while she was pregnant, and the girl now suffers from spina bifida. The lawsuit was among a dozen pending against drug manufacturer Abbott in St. Louis Circuit Court and among thousands pending across the country.
IS DEPAKOTE A DANGEROUS DRUG?
Sadly, Depakote and valproate medications including Depacon, Depakote, Depakote CP, Depakote ER, Depakene and Stavzor have been linked to birth defects including:
- spina bifida
- atrial septal defect
- cleft palate
- hypospadias
- extra fingers or toes
- craniosynostosis
In addition to these issues, the drugs have reportedly been linked to decreased IQ scores, autism and Asperger’s syndrome in children.
PURSUING A LAWSUIT OVER A DRUG INJURY
If your loved one has suffered injuries due to a defective drug, speak to our Nashville injury attorney. He can investigate if the wrong medication was prescribed or if there were issues with a drug’s labeling, in addition to mistakes made during the manufacturing process.
Interestingly, as far as Depakote is concerned, in 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a “safety announcement” about the use of valproate drugs during pregnancy. Sadly, this warning came well after thousands of women took these drugs while pregnant.
You could potentially pursue damages if a defective or mislabeled drug injures you or your loved one. Manufactures have a duty to make sure that all drugs are safe and that the public is made aware of any potential side effects. Those who do not should be held liable.
To chat live with a representative about your drug injury case, there is an option available to you at the top of this page. Have a safe and wonderful weekend!
“Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Psalms 51:12