Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been linked to a variety of different birth defects. When mothers continue to take these popular anti-depressant medications during pregnancy, normal fetal development may be affected. A variety of health conditions can result to a child who is exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy.
When a child is born with health problems because of medication use, it is important to determine if the drug company is to blame. Numerous lawsuits against manufacturers of popular antidepressant medications indicate that drug makers may be liable for birth defects caused by SSRIs. The manufacturers may be held legally liable under strict liability laws, and may be held responsible for failing to provide adequate warning to patients about birth defect risks. An experienced defective drug lawyer at Carey, Danis & Lowe can provide information to parents whose children were born with SSRI birth defects about the right to pursue compensation. Our attorneys also represent families affected by the complications from these SSRI medications and we can help you to stand up to the drug companies and get the money you need and deserve.
SSRI Medications and Birth Defects
Patients can recover compensation for defective drugs regardless of manufacturer negligence. However, in every defective drug claim, the victims taking legal action must prove that the medication was the actual cause of harm. In other words, they have to demonstrate the link between the drug and the health problems they are taking legal action for.
Typically, there is a variety of different evidence presented in defective drug cases to show that the drug was the cause of the health issues. Information from the company itself, such as emails or pre and post-market studies can be used to demonstrate that the drug causes problems. Independent expert studies, FDA warnings or recalls, and expert testimony can all help to bolster a plaintiff’s claim that a drug defect caused harm.
In the case of SSRIs and birth defects, there have been numerous studies showing a potential link between the drugs and birth defects to infants who are exposed in utero. In 2006, for example, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that infants exposed to SSRIs may have as much as 6 times the risk of developing a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Other studies have also suggested that the risk of PPHN may be between 2.4 and 6.1 times greater for babies exposed to SSRIs than for those whose mothers do not take antidepressants when pregnant.
If your family was affected by birth defects linked to SSRIs, it is up to you to prove your case and show you are entitled to compensate. Carey, Danis & Lowe can provide invaluable assistance in taking legal action and holding drug companies accountable for your losses and damages. Call today to schedule your free consultation with a St. Louis defective drug lawyer and learn more.
