A Zofran lawsuit may be an option for mothers who took the medication and gave birth to babies with birth defects. Studies suggest that taking Zofran during the first trimester of pregnancy may almost double the risk of delivering a baby with Zofran heart defects or other birth defects. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a lawsuit and recover compensation with the help of a Zofran lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group if you or a loved one took Zofran while pregnant and delivered a baby with birth defects, including heart defects. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Claimed Zofran Heart Defects
When considering the types of heart defects, it is important to note that not all babies who have a heart murmur have a cardiovascular defect, although a heart murmur might be the first symptom of an underlying condition. The “murmur” may be a whooshing, clicking or other type of abnormal sound heard through a stethoscope.
Fetuses begin development with holes throughout the walls that separate the heart’s four chambers. The holes are harmless while the fetus is in utero because the baby is receiving oxygen-rich blood from the mother, and the holes typically close before the baby is born or shortly after birth. The two types of defects characterized by holes in the heart are:
- Ventricular septal defects or holes in the septal wall between the lower-right and lower-left chambers of the heart, or ventricles
- Atrial septal defects or holes in the septal wall between the top-right and top-left chambers of the heart, or atria
Major circulation complications may occur when a baby is living with a large ventricular or atrial septal defect. In normally functioning hearts, oxygen-depleted blood flows through the heart’s right side into the lungs where it is enriched with oxygen and then pumped through the left side of the heart throughout the rest of the body.
In babies with atrial or ventricular septal defects, the oxygen-rich blood mixing with the oxygen-poor blood may cause the baby to be malnourished and underdeveloped at birth. Over time, a septal defect may cause high blood pressure in the lungs or pulmonary hypertension, which may also increase the risk of heart failure, bacterial infections in the heart, or death.
Symptoms of a heart defect include:
- Heart murmur
- Paleness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid or hard breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Failure to thrive
- Sweating while feeding
- Cyanosis or “blue baby syndrome”
Zofran Lawsuit Claims
The alleged link between use of Zofran during pregnancy and birth defects, including Zofran heart defects, cleft lip, and cleft palate has been the basis for lawsuits against drug maker GlaxoSmithKline. Zofran lawsuits allege GlaxoSmithKline failed to disclose these risks and promoted the drug “off-label” for treating morning sickness despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had not approved the drug for that purpose.
Have Questions About Zofran Heart Defects Or Other Birth Defects?
Women who took Zofran during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, and delivered a child with birth defects, including cleft lip, cleft palate, and heart defects, may be able to pursue claims for compensation for medical expenses they incurred on behalf of their children, as well as other damages sustained by the child. Compensation can be based on a number of factors, including:
- The permanency of the child’s injury
- Past and future medical expenses
- Scarring and disfigurement resulting from the injury or medical treatment
- Past and future pain and suffering resulting from the injury
If a child’s birth defect results in his or her death, the child’s parents may be able to pursue wrongful death damages on the his or her behalf.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
