Zofran Lawsuit Plaintiff Claims Combine With Zika Outbreak News To Create New Public Concern Over Birth Defects

ZofranLegal.com reports on updates regarding recent news of birth defects which were reportedly linked to the Zika virus as well as those connected to fetal Zofran exposure, and the public concern that each of these birth defect developments has caused across the United States.

Zika has been a subject of concern in recent times, and is a virus which many believe is able to be transmitted through mosquitos as well as several other ways. It is believed that when pregnant women catch this virus, especially during their first trimester of pregnancy, it can cause several side effects, but among them, it can cause their children to be born with a defect called microcephaly. Microcephaly causes the infants to be born with smaller heads than normal babies and can also cause brain damage or reduced brain function among these children.

Reports surrounding the Zika virus by the media have indicated that it has been contracted by large numbers of pregnant women in Brazil, which was the cause of a sudden epidemic to be declared, and more than 4,000 birth defect cases there. At this time, the Zika virus is still significantly more prevalent in other countries outside of the U.S., but since its initial outbreak, it has been found in America, and has brought about great public concern. Americans have attempted to take informed precautions to better protect themselves from possible contraction of the virus while pregnant or while planning to get pregnant, and many have canceled vacations to areas where the virus is more prominent.

The World Health Organization has declared the Zika outbreak in Brazil to be a “public health emergency,” which will allow the organization to send saved funds which can help to treat emergency outbreaks, according to a National Public Radio report. As a “public health emergency” Zika is able to gain greater public attention than other recent birth defect news. This attention, however, is seen as a good thing for many, who hope that it will better inform people of the dire need for a vaccine against the virus, as well as treatment and action to prevent other birth defect causes within the United States.

Birth defects are also a part of recent news because of hundreds of lawsuits which have been filed by parents from across the country against pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in reference to the anti-nausea drug the produce called Zofran. The parents filing these lawsuits all allege that Zofran taken by pregnant women (to combat morning sickness) causes an increased risk for the fetus to develop a range of severe and potentially fatal birth defects.

Each plaintiff notes that, fetal exposure to Zofran caused each of their babies to suffer from a wide variety of serious and sometimes fatal birth defects. Similar to new findings concerning Zika, the mothers involved took the drug during their first trimester of pregnancy. This is also a time, however, when the fetus undergoes much of its initial limb, heart, and mouth tissue formation, and a time when its cells are dividing rapidly. Interestingly enough in these cases, Zofran was never FDA-approved to treat pregnant women, or tested for safety on this consumer group and their unborn babies. It was, however, advertised by manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline as a safe and effective treatment for morning sickness in a controversial marketing move.

No matter their cause, birth defects are a critical public concern which requires further public attention. It fact, currently, birth defects are the number one cause of infant mortality. Parents who have experienced their devastating effects first-hand have gained new hope, however, that the latest Zika epidemic may somehow help to raise greater public awareness as well as increased government support for new birth defect prevention initiatives.

The attorneys of Monheit Law are currently working to assist other mothers who used Zofran while pregnant and who went on to give birth to children with defects. These women and their children could be entitled to substantial compensation gained through legal action. In order to better help those who would like to fully explore their legal rights in the matter, the attorneys of Monheit Law are now offering complimentary legal consultations for those affected.

To request further information, or to ask questions, please contact the attorneys of Monheit Law by calling (877) 620-8411.