Nearly a decade ago, a seven-year-old girl suffered a rare side effect of Children’s Motrin that left her blind and without 90 percent of her skin. Fox News reports that the victim, who is now a teenager, and her family have been awarded $63 million by a Massachusetts jury in their product liability case against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, McNeil-PPC Inc.
Officials say she suffered from toxic epidermal necrolysis after taking Motrin for fever. She lost most of her skin, was blinded, suffered short-term memory loss, and her respiratory system was seared. She was awarded $50 million in compensatory damages and her parents were awarded $6.5 million each.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a potentially fatal skin disease that inflames the eyes and mucus membranes. In this case, it inflamed the young victim’s throat, eyes, mouth, intestinal tract, esophagus, reproductive, and respiratory systems. A number of medicines, including ibuprofen, have been connected to severe allergic reactions. In this particular lawsuit, the family alleged that Johnson & Johnson failed to properly warn consumers of potentially life-threatening reactions that could result from taking their drug.
When a person has been injured or has suffered serious side effects as a result of a defective drug or an improperly labeled drug, he or she can seek compensation for injuries, damages, and losses. Injured victims, and in some cases their families, can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In such cases, punitive damages can also be sought against negligent manufacturers.
Victims and their families would be well advised to contact an experienced product liability lawyer in Oklahoma who will thoroughly analyze the facts of the case and ensure that the victims’ legal rights and best interests are protected.
