Ark. Woman Sues Pfizer for Child’s Birth Defects

Arkansas plaintiff Holly A. Hicks is suing Pfizer Inc. for the birth defects her child was born with. Hicks alleges that her child was born with birth defects as a result of ingesting the antidepressant Zoloft during her pregnancy. The minor plaintiff was born in 2010.

Hicks had been prescribed Zoloft before her pregnancy, but continued through her pregnancy after her physician reassured her there would be no danger to her baby. There were no warnings or indications on the drug’s label that warned the mother of possible pregnancy side effects, so the mother and physician had no reason to believe that the medication was unsafe, according to the Zoloft lawsuit. Hicks alleges that this was proven to be wrong when the child was born with multiple birth defects including pulmonary tension in a newborn, cognitive delays, and physical deformities.

Hicks nor her physician were aware of these Zoloft side effects until after the fact, nor had the defendant company notified Hicks of these possibilities. Hicks states that Pfizer had the obligation to warn her of the possibility of birth defects from Zoloft because she was relying on the accuracy of Zoloft’s warning label. Hicks argued that if she had known about the possibility of the birth defects, she would have never taken the medication.

Hicks is suing Pfizer for being directly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing an allegedly dangerous drug. The charges include: negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Overview of Zoloft Birth Defect Complications

Zoloft (Sertraline) is a powerful antidepressant manufactured by Pfizer, which was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1991, and was released into the market a year later in 1992. Zoloft is part of a drug family called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), making it unique amongt antidepressant. Unlike other antidepressants, Zoloft only targets the specific malfunction in the brain, and works to counteract it. This means, that the side effects of the antidepressant are not as powerful, as traditional mood-stabilizing drugs.

Zoloft is prescribed to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and premenstrual dysphonic disorder. Unfortunately, it is under the FDA’s Category C in terms of pregnancy warnings, which means that this drug could inflict permanent harm on to the fetus. According to several studies, Zoloft and other SSRIs have been linked to an increased risk of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in newborns, as well as other birth defects.

One was these studies was conducted at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark. The study showed that pregnant women who gave birth to babies with birth defects, including heart defects, were much higher in numbers in mothers who took SSRI patients, compared to women who had taken other antidepressants. The medications were taken when all of the women were within their first trimester of pregnancy. The study concluded that women, who take SSRI medications during their pregnancies, were much more likely to have their children born with birth defects.

As of now, scientists are unsure of what exactly triggers these reactions in fetuses. While no one argues the level of efficiency this drug has on its patients, many doctors recommend alternative medications to patients. The FDA also recommends that women, who are pregnant or may become pregnant, seek alternative medications.

Holly Hicks’ case is being transferred to MDL No. 2342, where Hicks will join other plaintiffs who allege similar injuries. Hicks is seeking damages for medical compensation, pain and suffering, and other punitive damages.

This Zoloft birth defect lawsuit is Holly A. Hicks vs. Pfizer Inc., MDL No. 2342, in the United States District Court of Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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