Zofran Lawsuit for Heart Defects

Children born with congenital heart defects because their mothers took Zofran during pregnancy may be eligible for compensation.

A 2012 Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention study suggested that women who took Zofran to treat morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of Zofran birth defects including cleft lip, cleft palate, and heart defects. The study suggests that Zofran pregnancy use can increase the risk twofold.

Zofran was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1991 to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and radiation. Zofran was not approved for pregnancy women, but GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) illegally marketed the drug as a treatment for morning sickness and misled doctors and patients about the safety of Zofran.

Congenital heart defects can lead to subsequent health complications. Children born with Zofran heart defects may experience a lifetime of health problems. These children should not be left to bear the burden of medical expenses caused by a condition that could have been prevented if their mothers had the opportunity to make an informed decision.

GSK paid $3 billion in 2012 to settle numerous civil and criminal allegations, including the illegal marketing of Zofran.  The company is now facing lawsuits filed on behalf of children born with heart defects or craniofacial birth defects because their mothers took Zofran during pregnancy.

Families affected by Zofran heart defects are urged to contact a lawyer to find out if they are eligible to file a Zofran lawsuit for compensation.