Should I go after a drug company or let it go?!
Question: Should I go after a drug company or let it go!?
Here is how it went down!. My daughter had a GBM tumor!. The doctor wanted to put her on Avastin because the first chemo didn't work!. Well, the Avastin ended up killing her!. We were never told of any side effects other than diarrhea!. We were never told it could give her a stroke and kill her!. BUT, the day after my girl died, the doctor calls me up and says she finds out that more and more kids have been having strokes because of Avastin!. Seems kind of fishy to me, but I'm not sure of what to do!? What would be the best way to approach this!? Let it go or go after the doc & Avastin!? I don't want more kids and parents to have to go through this!.!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
FIrst of all, I am so sorry to hear about your daughter!. Action does need to be taken!. First of all, there's something called informed consent!. A patient, or the patient's guardian has the right to know everything about their treatment, including side effects!.!.!. your doctor breeched this principle when he did not disclose the side effects to you!. Regardless of whether or not you could do a google search and find the side effects, it's not the responsibility of the patient or their family to find information about drugs!.!.!.!. THAT IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILTY OF THE DOCTOR!!! First of all, request that he fill out a MedWatch form!.!.!. it's a form used for adverse drug reactions and it goes to the FDA!. I would also get in contact with someone at the FDA and persist until they listen!. If you keep bothering them, and band together with other people who have lost a loved one due to this drug, then it's possible that they will put a black box warning on the drug!.!.!. black boxes are the first thing you see when dispensing the drug, and the doc HAS to disclose it to you!. There are lots of things that you can do in order to pevent this from happening again!. You should definately check out the book "Bitter Pills" by Stephen Fried!. his wife had a horrible reaction to a drug commonly perscribed!. because of his persistance, the drug was taken off the market!. It's really incredible!.!.!. what one person can do!.!.!. and I think it could give you lots of tips about what action to take!. Definately do not forget about this! I would get in contact with a lawyer and see what he or she about a law suit against the doc!.!.!. it was his responsibility to disclose to you the risk associated with any pharmaceutical treatment!. Best of luck and hop things work out for you and something is done about this!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is possible to see if there are any class action law suits pending againg the pharmeceutical company that makes Avastin that you can become a party to!. You can probably do a Google seachWww@Answer-Health@Com
Unfortunately, a quick google search showed that Avastin lists an increased risk of stroke when the medicine is taken!.
"People who took Avastin with chemotherapy had a higher risk of stroke or heart problems (blood clots) compared with people taking chemotherapy alone!. Talk to your doctor about these potential problems" (Avastin!.com)!. It also reads "In rare cases, serious side effects have been fatal!."
Because this is listed as a possible side effect of the drug, I don't think that you can really go after them!. I feel for you and am so sorry this happened!. All you were doing was trying to make her better!. I would suggest that you try to raise awareness that Avastin can cause strokes!. Possibly write to the drug company, FDA, etc!. Maybe enlist the doctor to help!.
However I don't think you're going to get a ruling in your favor given that the risk of stroke is mentioned!. I'm surprised your doctor didn't tell you this as they should have given you the possible side effects!. If anything the doctor might be at fault!. However, this might be overruled because a simple google search yields this information!. They never gave you the side effects sheet for the drug!?
A court case would cost a lot of money, especially if you don't win!. Maybe consult a lawyer - they'll tell you if you have a case or not!. Obviously I'm not a lawyer so they may be able to twist things - let you know what is legal negligence, etc!. Good luck to you and now that I know, I'll be sure to pass the word on!. You've raised awareness just by posting this!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
"People who took Avastin with chemotherapy had a higher risk of stroke or heart problems (blood clots) compared with people taking chemotherapy alone!. Talk to your doctor about these potential problems" (Avastin!.com)!. It also reads "In rare cases, serious side effects have been fatal!."
Because this is listed as a possible side effect of the drug, I don't think that you can really go after them!. I feel for you and am so sorry this happened!. All you were doing was trying to make her better!. I would suggest that you try to raise awareness that Avastin can cause strokes!. Possibly write to the drug company, FDA, etc!. Maybe enlist the doctor to help!.
However I don't think you're going to get a ruling in your favor given that the risk of stroke is mentioned!. I'm surprised your doctor didn't tell you this as they should have given you the possible side effects!. If anything the doctor might be at fault!. However, this might be overruled because a simple google search yields this information!. They never gave you the side effects sheet for the drug!?
A court case would cost a lot of money, especially if you don't win!. Maybe consult a lawyer - they'll tell you if you have a case or not!. Obviously I'm not a lawyer so they may be able to twist things - let you know what is legal negligence, etc!. Good luck to you and now that I know, I'll be sure to pass the word on!. You've raised awareness just by posting this!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You have suffered a terrific loss and are still early in the grieving process!. My suggestion is to give yourself time to grieve before thinking about getting involved with any lawyers!. Suing will not bring your daughter back and I honestly do not think you could prevail in court!. You would also have to sue your physician for not warning you about potential strokes and I am not sure that is something that you would want to do either!. Getting involved in a lawsuit would only keep your pain fresh and raw!.
Here is a book that was very helpful to me after the loss of my father!.
http://www!.amazon!.com/Living-When-Someon!.!.!.
all the bestWww@Answer-Health@Com
Here is a book that was very helpful to me after the loss of my father!.
http://www!.amazon!.com/Living-When-Someon!.!.!.
all the bestWww@Answer-Health@Com
Avastatin does help the vast majority of patients it is prescribed for, that's why it is still on the market; I am deepy sorry for your loss, but you should endeavour not to take the loss out on the doctors or the drug companies!. There is no such thing as "completely safe"!.!.!.
Think about this: a percentage of patients die on the operating table while having tumors surgically removed or while having bypass procedures for heart disease, should we stop treating cancer and heart disease with surgery!? Of course not!.
I would urge you to find a local support group so you can discuss your feelings with others who have to same frustrations after a loss!. Otherwise your anger may end up making YOU sick, and you know that's not what your little girl would have wanted!.!.!.
I am so sorry!Www@Answer-Health@Com
Think about this: a percentage of patients die on the operating table while having tumors surgically removed or while having bypass procedures for heart disease, should we stop treating cancer and heart disease with surgery!? Of course not!.
I would urge you to find a local support group so you can discuss your feelings with others who have to same frustrations after a loss!. Otherwise your anger may end up making YOU sick, and you know that's not what your little girl would have wanted!.!.!.
I am so sorry!Www@Answer-Health@Com