Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome as the Catalyst for Accutane Lawsuits
The former Hoffman-La Roche anti-acne medication, Accutane, has been in the news recently. Accutane lawsuits are being filed by hundreds of patients that have suffered the adverse side effects associated with this drug. Even though Hoffman-La Roche initially took adequate steps to minimize some of the adverse effects associated with Accutane, more and more evidence is pointing to a direct relationship between Accutane use and the development of Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBS is inclusive of several conditions causing possible inflammation and ulceration within the intestinal tract. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are two most common conditions associated with IBS and have directly resulted in numerous Accutane lawsuits.
As the number of complaints from people suffering IBS related symptoms after Accutane use increase, the evidence of a direct correlation between this pathological condition and intake of this drug becomes more substantial. The American Journal of Gastroenterology published a recent study in April of 2010 corroborating this causal relationship. This study showed that patients who have taken isoretinoin, the active drug in Accutane, for prolonged amounts of time, are four times more likely to develop severe forms of IBS such as ulcerative colitis.
An Alabama man, known to have taken Accutane, underwent surgical intervention to have his colon removed due to severe IBS and was then awarded a substantial sum by a New Jersey jury last February. He had originally won a $2.6 million case in 2007, however that case was overturned on appeal and had to be retried. Ultimately, he made a better case the second time around and was awarded $25.16 million by the jury.
The public is safeguarded from companies who market and distribute dangerous produce by consumer protection laws that also hold these companies liable and seek proper compensation for any harm that may have been inflicted by these products. If victims are able to successfully have their cases heard, they may be properly compensated for any accumulated medical expenses and lost wages due to lost work. Ultimately, the jury will decide whether to give a monetary designation for the physical distress the patient has suffered and thus give proper compensation for the pain and suffering caused by Accutane and its harmful side effects.
A sufficient number of cases have categorized Accutane as a potentially dangerous drug linked to the deleterious development of IBS. Patients with a history of taking Accutane and have developed IBS or IBS related symptoms have the right to seek damages through an Accutane lawsuit. Should you wish to learn more about the ongoing litigation, you may visit theAccutane lawsuit settlement website.