PFS Suicide Victim's Family Goes Public--and with Lawsuit

General Discussion
#1

This is big:

First-of-its-kind lawsuit claims Merck failed to warn against suicide risk and depression

LOS ANGELES, Mar 09, 2015 (BUSINESS WIRE) – Consumer-rights law firm Hagens Berman is representing surviving family members in a wrongful death lawsuit against Merck & Co. MRK, -0.10% one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, for allegedly failing to warn of dangerous side effects relating to suicidality and suicide ideation in its prescription hair loss drug Propecia. Hagens Berman is seeking information from others who have taken Propecia and experienced these side effects.

The first-of-its-kind lawsuit filed on Mar. 5, 2015, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, by the surviving spouse and two children of decedent John Pfaff, alleges that Propecia has known risks of depression and suicidal ideation, behavior and risk, but since the drug’s inception in 1997 through 2010, Merck never included a warning about either risk on the Propecia label or in literature distributed with the drug. Merck eventually added depression to the drug’s warning label in late 2010, but still, to this day, fails to warn of the risks of suicidal ideation and increased suicidal behavior.

The full story here:

marketwatch.com/story/hagens … 2015-03-09

And John’s obit here:

legacy.com/obituaries/baltim … =163925706

If you read up on John, he was worth many millions of dollars. So Merck will have hard time sweeping this one under the rug. I suspect the Pfaff family will not rest until justice is served.

#2

I wish the family well I hope they get Justice.

#3

this is HUGE

#4

Indeed.

And if nothing else, Merck is forced to defend itself against the allegations.

Kenneth C. Frazier will no doubt fall back on his tired there’s-no-scientific-evidence argument.

But how duz ya 'splain this?

pfsfoundation.org/news/danie … 1976-2014/

That’s right: a patient in one of the PFS clinical study takes his own life.

#5

Hopefully justice gets served… too many lives have been ruined by this drug. It has gone on for too long!!

#6

Amen to that!

#7

Pharma Times has picked up the story:

pharmatimes.com/Article/15-0 … _drug.aspx

And Pharmaceutical Industry Today:

pharmaceuticals.einnews.com/arti … mQgg%3D%3D

If Bill Cosby couldn’t sweep it under the rug, Mr. Frazier, you certainly cannot.

At least Bill Cosby WAS a beloved figure for decades, so he was given the benefit of the doubt for a decade or so before the cat scampered out of the bag.

But you, Mr. Frazier, have been universally reviled ever since you “saved” Merck from the Voixx fiasco.

And now, the cat is restless, ready to scamper like a mofo.

#8

As always, please click on the links above so that editors see how much interest there is in the issue.

#9

Huge thanks to PR123 for sharing this information, I too feel this is BIG news

God bless Kelly Pfaff, her children and the fallen John Pfaff to this evil drug, RIP

I pray many other suicide victims families have the strength to follow the same path that Kelly has chosen to do. This has nothing to do with Kelly seeking to make a quick buck off the back of her deceased husband, as they were very wealthy to start with, but more about closure for her and hopefully some recognition and prosecution for Merck!!!

Kelly now survives as a single mom with her two children in the absence of John!!!

#10

Any update on this case?

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