A study conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians has discovered a link between prescription antidepressant drug Zoloft and birth defects including persistent pulmonary hypertension. Further a serious risk of withdraw from the medicine was consistent with women who took the medication during pregnancy as well as a heightened risk of suicide.
Commentary
Several studies have begun linking antidepressants taken prenatally with risks of birth defects in newborns as well as suicide risks in pregnant mothers. It is interesting which side effects are disclosed by the manufacturers and which are not as many of these drug companies do indeed acknowledge a risk of suicide. Because of this acknowledged risk most doctors should be aware of this contingency and warn their patients accordingly. In this instance a manufacturer is probably off-the-hook regarding liability as they have recognized the associated risk but a doctor may not be.
Regarding birth defects however Zolofts maker Pfizer has not disclosed or admitted risk of birth defect laying the potential for liability at the feet of the manufacturer. This liability would need to be corroborated with a detailed and thorough third party investigation linking an injury with consumption of the drug. If that link is discovered a personal injury claim can typically commence if the claimants can prove a monetary loss from the injury.
Texas Drug Injury Attorney Michael Grossman