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In 1982 the Food and Drugs Administration approved a drug that was to be used on a particular type of acne, severe nodular acne, for which no other therapy was available at that time. This drug was called Accutane, and was manufactured by Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. The drug was prescribed to many acne sufferers over the years – often to those that had a far milder form of acne as well as to those with the more serious form of this skin condition. However, eighteen years after the drug had first been approved the FDA had received a large influx of reports relating to both suicides and psychiatric harm that appeared to be associated with Accutane.
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When the son of a Michigan US Representative, Bart Stupak, shot himself at the age of just seventeen, the suicide was linked to the teenager’s association with Accutane, and the possible psychological effects of the drug became national news all across the United States. The influx of reports received that year by the FDA related to feelings of severe depression, suicidal tendencies, and even suicide attempts. It was estimated that Accutane had been used by around five million Americans, many of whom had then gone on to develop psychological problems. Other possible side effects from Accutane included inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, and birth defects or fetal death in pregnant users.
This, of course, resulted in affected patients and the families of suicide victims filing for compensation from the manufacturer of Accutane, Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. It was alleged that the manufacturer of this drug was more concerned about presenting the drug in a way that would maximize on profits, and therefore failed to issue adequate information with regards to the side effects and danger so the drug, thus misrepresenting the product and putting patients at risk.
Although the FDA recommended that Accutane be pulled from the US market in the late 1990s, it was claimed that Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. had known about the potential dangers and side effects of the drug before it even received approval from the FDA back in 1982. The manufacturer allegedly went on to market the drug as some sort of mirage for severe acne sufferers, whilst all the time being well aware that the drug could result in severe psychological issues. Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. was accused of deliberately keeping this information from the public, and the controversy surrounding the drug and its manufacturer led to lawsuits against the manufacturer by those adversely affected by the drug.
The number of claims being made against manufacturers of drugs such as Accutane saw a dramatic increase in the number of lawyers specializing in drug litigation. These lawyers are able to carefully assess each case individually to advise whether it is worth pursuing compensation depending on the circumstances. A specialist lawyer also has the skills, experience and resources to maximize the potential settlement figure and increase the chances of a successful claim.
An Accutane lawyer will be able to advise Accutane victims of the families of these victims with regards to the best course of action to take. As a drugs manufacturing giant, Hoffman-La Roche, Inc. is likely to have a large and skilled legal team on hand to fight off as many claims and lawsuits as possible, but the aim of the independent Accutane lawyer is to match the legal expertise of these teams and win compensation for those affected by the dangers and side effects of Accutane.
Anyone that has taken Accutane and has suffered from depression, suicidal tendencies, or any of the other possible effects of the medication is advised to seek both medical and legal assistance at the earliest opportunity. An Accutane lawyer can then assess the case and offer valuable advice with a view to filing a claim against the manufacturer of Accutane.