Another Paxil Birth Defects Lawsuit Filed

Shannon Cote, a Brampton, Ont. mother, has filed suit against GlaxoSmithKline, alleging that heart defects suffered by her 10-year-old son were as a result of her being given Paxil while pregnant:

"In August 1997, Cote became pregnant at which time her lawyers say she began to suffer from low self-esteem and depression.

"The woman claims her family physician prescribed the drug and was assured at the time that Paxil, unlike the other antidepressants, was suitable during pregnancy.

"Subsequently, Cote's child was born with heart defects that Brampton-based NAPAL Law Chambers (NLC) argues is directly linked to use of the antidepressant.

"Zain Rizvi, litigation consultant for NLC, charged the drug manufacturer failed to ensure that a proper warning was placed on the drug's prescription label, as well as proper usage instructions.

"'Birth defects were caused solely as a result of the negligence of the defendant manufacturer. As a result of (the child's) heart defects, the plaintiffs have been forced to live with severe psychological problems that have affected their daily lives,' Rizvi said. 'The manufacturer was aware that knowledge must be provided to patients as to the possible side effects of the drug but ignored all of these matters.'"

Glaxo issued a rather lame statement that's in the above-linked article.