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Group of minors file suit against Depakote

Posted on May 8th, 2013 No Comments

At least three dozen minors recently filed a federal lawsuit against drug giant Abbot for the Depakote their mothers took during pregnancy.

The plaintiffs claimed in their complaint that they suffered physical harm as a result of their mothers’ use of the anti-epileptic drug Depakote during pregnancy. According to the lawsuit, Depakote “ was defectively designed, inadequately tested, dangerous to human health and unborn, and lacked proper warnings as to the true danger associated with its use.” The plaintiffs claim that they were born with birth defects like “spina bifida, heart defects, and neural tube defects” as a result of the use of Depakote during pregnancy.

If you or your child has sustained birth defects due to Depakote ingestion during pregnancy, a lawyer from Williams Kherkher may be able to help you get much-needed compensation. Call 800-761-3187 today to learn more about your legal options and how we can help.

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Pregnant moms’ use of anti-seizure drug increases babies’ autism risk

Posted on April 24th, 2013 No Comments

According to a recent Danish study, pregnant mothers ingesting the anti-seizure drug Valproate during their pregnancy increase the risk of their baby being born with autism to five times that of mothers who don’t use this medication.

The research study, which was just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that Valproate can increase autism spectrum disorder, which includes Asperger syndrome and other developmental disorders, by three times. Neurologist Kimford Meador advised child-bearing mothers in an editorial to avoid ingesting Valproate. In previous studies the anti-seizure drug is linked to several birth defects like heart problems, spina bifida, cleft palates, and cognitive problems.

Meador also asserted that more studies are needed to fully understand the effects of the anti-seizure drug on unborn babies and how to treat them.

Tragically, many babies have been subjected to serious birth defects as a result of their mother using the drug Depakote during pregnancy. If this has happened to you, our legal team at Williams Kherkher may be able to help you obtain compensation. Call 800-761-3187 to discuss your particular situation.

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Man with Birth Defect Allegedgely Associated with Depakote Drug Sues Abbott

Posted on February 11th, 2013 No Comments

21-year-old Jasper James of South Carolina filed charges against drug giant Abbott Laboratories on the claim that he suffered birth defects when he was born.

Jasper said in a complaint that he suffered birth defects when he was born because his mother took Depakote while she was still pregnant with him. James allegedly has spina bifida, a neural tube defect that adversely affected his spinal cord and its coverings. Due to this birth defect James has supposedly lost a normal life and earnings, in addition to suffering pain throughout his life. In his claim, James is seeking $75,000 in damages.

Women expecting to get pregnant or who are currently pregnant should be warned by doctors not to take Depakote, and Abbott should have a full knowledge of it, according to James’ complaint.

Depakote has been shown to cause serious health problems for those who mothers took it while pregnant. As such, victims of Abbott’s negligence in releasing warnings about this drug’s hazards should be financially compensated for their losses. Call a Depakote lawyer of Williams Kherkher at 800-761-318 today to discuss your options in such a situation.

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Former Nursing Home Director Sentence for Giving Residents Depakote

Posted on January 14th, 2013 No Comments

On Wednesday, Gwen D. Hughes, former director of a California nursing home, was sentenced to three years in prison for medicating residents with Depakote, an anti-seizure and mood stabilizer drug, in an effort to unnecessarily subdue them.

All of the 23 residents who were given Depakote by Hughes suffered health complications, with the death of three residents being connected to the use of the medication. Hughes was charged with a felony elder abuse as a result of one resident’s death. As documents from the Department of Health and Human Services report, no families were told about the residents starting use of Depakote.

Other supervisors and employees also involved in the matter were sentenced to 300 hours of community / volunteer service for the role they played in allowing the use of Depakote.

Our law firm expresses their condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this abuse.

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Abbott Laboratories named in St. Clair County lawsuit

Posted on November 6th, 2012 No Comments

The makers of the antiseizure medication, Depakote, have now been named in a lawsuit filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court after nearly a dozen patients allege that there children were born with birth defects after they were prescribed Depakote during pregnancy.

The complaint states that the plaintiff’s minor children were born with spina bifida or other birth defects when they were prescribed the antiseizure medication by their doctors while they were pregnant.

The lawsuit states that the main ingredient in Depakote, valproic acid, is linked to the development of birth defects when taken during their first trimester and the women should not have been prescribed to take it.

The lawsuit continues to state that Abbott Laboratories misled doctors about the dangers of the medication. They are accused of “manufacturing and marketing a defective drug.”

If you or a loved one has used Depakote during pregnancy and your child suffered from a nueral tube defect as a result, contact the Depakote lawsuit lawyers today in order to discuss the options available to you.

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Herbicide exposure may cause rare birth defect

Posted on October 2nd, 2012 No Comments

The most common herbicide used in the U.S., atrazine, may be linked to the development of a rare birth defect called choanal atresia.

According to researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine, the herbicide, which is typically used on corn crops, may disrupt a woman’s endocrine system while she is pregnant, causing the defect.

This chemical is thought to be an ‘endocrine disruptor’ and may lead to the development of choanal atresia or stenosis, which is the less severe version of the defect. Choanal atresia is a congenital disorder that causes tissue to block the nasal passageway in one or both airways, resulting in difficulty breathing. Doctors may have to resuscitate a baby with choanal atresia upon delivery if the condition is severe. Additionally, surgery is usually required to remove the obstruction.

“One exposure that tipped in the direction [of atrazine] was maternal use of thyroid medications during pregnancy – there’s a hypothesis that hormones, and in particular, thyroid dysfunction, are related to choanal atresia risk,” Dr. Philip Lupo, an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, told FoxNews.com.

If your child suffered a birth defect after you were prescribed a medication during pregnancy, contact the Depakote lawsuit lawyers of Williams Kherkher today by calling 800-761-3187.

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September is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month

Posted on September 6th, 2012 No Comments

September is recognized as National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month in order educate society about this common birth defect.

According to statistics from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, each year 4,437 children are born with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate. Over 2,000 children are born with cleft palates.

A cleft lip occurs when there is a split or separation in the upper lip, and a cleft palate occurs when there is a gap in the bone or soft tissue in the roof of the mouth. Both of these defects occur during fetal development and can cause hearing and dental issues, as well as problems with eating and speaking.

The exact cause of these conditions is unknown and is still being researched, but their development has been linked to multiple risk factors including drug and alcohol use during pregnancy, genetics, and the use of certain prescription medications during pregnancy.

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Over 20 plaintiffs file Depakote lawsuit

Posted on August 2nd, 2012 No Comments

On June 8th, almost 30 plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the makers of Depakote, Abbott Laboratories, claiming that the use of the medication during the early stages of pregnancy caused the women’s children to suffer from birth defects.

The new lawsuit seeks damages for 27 plaintiffs who all state similar claims. Each of the women took Depakote in order to control epileptic seizures, migraine headaches, or the manic phases of bipolar disorder.

After using the medication during the early phases of the pregnancy, they claim that their children were born with issues such as cleft lip or palate, spina bifida, malformation of fingers and toes, heart malformation, and developmental delays. The plaintiffs also claim that Abbott Laboratories knows of the potential risks but continues to market the drug.

If this has happened to you, contact the Depakote attorneys by calling 800-761-3187 today.

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What is tetralogy of Fallot?

Posted on July 10th, 2012 No Comments

A birth defect linked to the use of Depakote during pregnancy, tetralogy of Fallot, is a condition that occurs when a child’s heart fails to form correctly.

Tetralogy of Fallot is linked to four main heart problems, including ventricle septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy, overriding aorta, and pulmonary stenosis.

Tetralogy of Fallot is sometimes accompanied by other issues, such as forked ribs. Another life-threatening concern that comes with tetrology of Fallot is the risk of heart failure within a child’s first year of life.

Depakote is usually prescribed to treat epileptic seizures or mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. If you have been prescribed Depakote while pregnant, causing your child to suffer a birth defect, contact the Depakote lawyers of Williams Kherkher in order to discuss all of your legal options.

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Grandmother begins awareness campaign for cleft lip and palate

Posted on July 5th, 2012 No Comments

A grandmother from Corpus Christi has now begun a fundraiser in order to raise awareness and funds for her grandchild who was born with a cleft lip and palate.

The child went through 17 surgeries that were unsuccessful before he was involved with Operation Smile. His grandma has now joined the program in order to raise awareness for the condition that has affected her grandson’s life tremendously. The woman plans to begin awareness campaigns in different schools throughout the Corpus Christ School District.

If your loved one has developed a birth defect after you were prescribed Depakote during pregnancy, contact the Depakote lawsuit lawyers today by calling 800-761-3187 today.

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