Accutane's Inflammatory Bowel Disorder Link Cited in $2.6 Million Verdict

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May 30th, 2007

"Accutane Manufacturer To Pay $2.6M In Verdict"

Thirty-six-year-old Andrew McCarrell of Moody, Alabama was awarded $119,000 for his past medical expenses and $2.5 million in compensatory damages to cover his future medical costs and for pain and suffering in a jury verdict awarded yesterday. His lawsuit alleged that the Accutane treatment he received for acne caused him to develop inflammatory bowel disorder, a serious and debilitating disease marked by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract, severe diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

Hundreds of Accutane Lawsuits

The maker of Accutane is the pharmaceutical giant Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., based in Nutley, New Jersey. The trial was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as the first trial handled by five law firms jointly representing nearly 600 people whose inflammatory bowel disorder is alleged to have been caused by Accutane. The acne treatment has been on the market for about 25 years, and more than 13 million prescriptions for Accutane have been written during that period. Many lawsuits regarding several of Accutane's severe side effects have been filed in the U.S.

Severe Risks of Accutane

Accutane's other potential side effects include suicidal behavior and birth defects. The package instructions for Accutane include a warning about its link to psychiatric disorders and birth defects, including the bold-faced wording "Causes birth defects." The warning also includes wording to the effect that Accutane use has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease, but the 10-person Atlantic City jury found that this warning was not adequate.

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

Have you been harmed by Accutane treatment? Contact a qualified Accutane lawyer today.