Zantac Lawsuit


Researching drug company and regulatory malfeasance for over 16 years
Humanist, humorist

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Action on Britain's epidemic of pill addiction


Pic: damienfranco.com



This from today's Independent newspaper.

Action on Britain's epidemic of pill addiction

Peer to use House of Lords speech to reveal relative's addiction to prescription drug.

The Department of Health has launched a review of the million-plus patients addicted to prescribed drugs in the UK in a tacit admission that attempts to control the problem over the last two decades have failed.

An estimated 1.5 million people are addicted to prescription and over-the-counter drugs including benzodiazepine tranquillisers, sleeping pills such as zoplicone - implicated in the death of Hollywood star Heath Ledger - and painkillers containing codeine.

The review, which began in July, was disclosed in a Westminster hall debate last June but has not been formally announced. It followed a report by the House of Commons all-party group on drugs misuse which called for better training for doctors in the risks of over-prescribing, greater awareness of the scale of addiction and more centres for treatment.


The article continues here and highlights the story of a man who was prescribed the SNRi Efexor and Clonazepam, a benzodiazepine, to help him sleep following the failure of a business venture in 2001.

It's a decent article and this subject matter has been raised my myself and other advocates to the MHRA on numerous occasions.

Hat - Tip: Steph & Cyndi

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Inquest into the death of Sara Carlin postponed




Newswire reports that Dr. Bonita Porter, Deputy Chief Coroner for Inquests, today [29th Oct] announced that the inquest into the death of Sara Carlin, originally scheduled to begin on November 2, 2009, has been postponed at the request of her family.

Sara was 18 when she took her own life. She had been prescribed Paxil.

The inquest will now begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 7, 2010, at the Toronto Coroners Courts, 15 Grosvenor Street. Dr. Bert Lauwers will preside as inquest coroner and Mr. Michael Blain will be counsel to the coroner.

More news as it filters through.

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Friday, October 30, 2009

Yesterday's Meeting with MHRA and Janice Simmons [Seroxat User Group]

Meeting fellow advocates who dedicate their time and energy into helping others can be an uplifting experience. I have corresponded with many but met very few.

Yesterday I travelled to Peterborough to meet up with Seroxat User Group campaigner, Janice Simmons, and MHRA Communications Director, Simon Gregor.

I arrived in Huntington and was greeted by Janice at the train station, we had never met before but the 'connection' was made instantly upon meeting.

Janice has been campaigning and helping thousands of people for years. She, like myself, does this voluntary, she, like me, is concerned about SSRi use, she, like me, thinks the MHRA should be doing more.

We had an hour before Simon Gregor arrived so Janice drove the short journey back to her home. It was there where I saw just how active Janice is in her fight. Her computer room is akin to a vault of printed emails, internal documents, years of hard work and passion.

Janice has met with the MHRA on a number of occasions, she has sat with MHRA CEO, Kent Woods, and aired her concerns, she has provided the MHRA with countless documents. Janice has also met with Prime Minister, Gordon Brown to discuss the problem of SSRi's.

I have nothing but respect for Janice Simmons. With over 40,000 emails sent to her over the years, she logs and answers every single one, in fact it could be argued that Janice receives more emails than the CEO of the MHRA, Kent Woods, unlike Kent, Janice answers every single one, she sees them all as being of equal importance. A lesson that Kent Woods should take on board.

We briefly discussed the new 580 page N.I.C.E. clinical guidance that was released 24 hours previously. We, along with the MHRA, have been waiting for this to be published so we can all move on to 'phase 2', which would be to get the British National Formulary [BNF] to alter the wording with regard to guidance on withdrawal for SSRi's. Currently, the guidance in the BNF is pretty slim to say the least.

The new guidance touches on that word 'addiction' again and it is very interesting, if not contradictory, to see the N.I.C.E. criteria for addiction. I, along with Janice, believe Seroxat is addictive, I have my own personal experience with it where as Janice has over 40,000 emails of people writing her telling of their horrific withdrawal stories. Are all SSRi's addictive? Yes, I believe they can be, I cannot be any broader than that as Seroxat was the 'chosen' one for me.

Simon arrived and, to be fair, was cross-examined by myself and Janice for approx three and a half hours. We spoke of addiction, withdrawal, the pharmaceutical industry, the yellow card system, swine flu - where we [Janice and I] think the MHRA are going wrong. It was another chance to air our grievances and another chance for a representative from the MHRA to sit and listen to patients [or patient advocates].

Simon has took up the mantle of speaking to patients [and/or advocates] because he believes it is a way forward for the MHRA. Without these discussions the MHRA would, I believe, stand still.

Janice and I made a few recommendations with regard to the print-outs for Adverse Drug Reaction reports [ADR's]. As no minutes were taken [because it was basically an informal discussion] I cannot recall each of the printed ADR's Janice showed both myself and Simon. I can recall that there has been over 32,000 ADR's for Seroxat. One recommendation we made was to have the ADR's to be more specific. For instance how many of the 32,000 was due to withdrawal problems?

I think we can safely assume that the 32,000 figure is well below the actual figure, if we multiply that sum by 10 then we have a more realistic figure. So 320,000 ADR's on Seroxat alone - quite alarming. It is unknown how many of these are duplicated [from the same person] but nonetheless alarm bells should be ringing at such as huge figure. We touched on the military and the reporting of ADR's too. To be honest, and I don't think he will mind me saying, the military and ADR's had not occurred to Simon before yesterday's discussion. Evidence that these types of discussions can be beneficial.

Simon Gregor does not have all the answers, he has never professed to have them all. What he clearly has is a tool, a valuable tool. That, ladies and gentlemen, is people like myself and Janice who can take the MHRA down roads where they have never ventured before.

Talking with patients and patient advocates is a step in the right direction. Critics, of which I know there are many, will claim these discussions are pointless and it is merely a way of the MHRA stifling our voices.

Simon and others at the MHRA are more than aware that no discussions or top level meetings will stifle my voice. One could argue that this blog, along with others has opened the doors to these types of discussions. One only has to look at the first ever post on this blog, it was in 2006 - I was pissed off at the MHRA for ignoring me. I never in my wildest dreams envisaged some three years down the line myself and a Communications Director would be in the same room discussing the regulatory system.

Was yesterday beneficial? I think so... I hope so.

The MHRA have a lot of catching up to do because they have previously been about as open as a virgin's legs, about as welcoming as a box of rattlesnakes.

Personally, I believe, huge strides have been made to alter the lack of transparency within the MHRA. They are trying but they still have a long way to go. Their CEO, Kent Woods, should take a good look at what Simon Gregor is trying to achieve. Kent should come to terms with the fact that the most important people are patients and if he genuinely wants to turn things around then he should not only listen but he should correspond too. Just because our names don't have 'Doctor' or 'Professor' before them does not make us or our opinions less valuable.

So, where do we go from here? Who knows? But to be at this stage when approx three years ago I was talking to a wall, is a slight achievement.


Will we meet again? Most definitely. Both Janice and I have a vision of a whole bunch of advocates and pharmaceutical industry executives sitting round a table with the MHRA. Personally, I'd like Glaxo's Alistair Benbow and/or GSK Chief, Andrew Witty, to sit in the same room as me and for them to tell me that my personal experience with Seroxat had nothing to do with their company. I'd then like them to tell me that the thousands of others suffering withdrawal at the hands of their drug had nothing to do with their company. The same would apply to any other patient and pharmaceutical chief.

Nothing is impossible. Talking is a good starting point.

For the record, my travelling expenses was paid for by the MHRA - that being a train ticket from Birmingham to Huntington [and back again].

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Meeting Tomorrow





An early start for me tomorrow. I'm meeting with Janice Simmons from the Seroxat User Group and Simon Gregor, Communications Director of the Medicines Healthcare and products Regulatory Agency [MHRA]. No doubt, this will prompt a barrage of Freedom of Information requests to the MHRA from the sad individuals who have become obsessed with my meetings with the MHRA. [1]

There is no conspiracy but I expect the usual claims from the idiots.

Anyway, I will let you know the outcome when I get back tomorrow

[1] Stalkers Request Information from MHRA

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Irish Law Team Urges Mothers on Seroxat [Paxil] to Seek Legal Advice

Patricia Crosbie, Partner in Malcomson Law Solicitors, discusses the drug Seroxat. She advises how the rate of congenital heart defects in babies/children is higher in women taking Seroxat and on a recent Judgment in relation to a 3 year old boy where the family has been awarded $2.5 Million.



Read the files from the court case HERE


Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

2010 fee dropped by MHRA


Pic: randi.org


By Nathan Devlin 10/27/09

The MHRA has dropped its 2010 licensing fee increase as the pharmaceutical industry suffers from the ensuing economic crisis.

Previously, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had been projecting a fee increase of three to four percent, but now have revised that plan to increase the fee by just one percent from next April.

Back in October of last year, while the financial services industry was buckling under the strain of a collapsed economy, the pharmaceutical industry - bolstered by a number of assumptions - including a "healthy order book" - said that its proposed three to four percent rise had been "warmly welcomed by industry organisations who have sought a consistent medium-term picture which allows them to budget with confidence."

Now though, with the financial crisis permeating far beyond the boundaries of the financial services industry and into every corner of the global economy, the Agency had revised its figure.

Across the board

According to a consultation letter the MHRA sent out to all stakeholders last week, given the economic climate change since last year’s fees round, in addition to the fact that the financial crisis had led to "forecast volumes of activity and restricting cost increases to become strictly unavoidable," the Agency now recommend only increasing all capital and periodic fees by just 1 percent, across the board.

The letter also detailed how the MHRA forecasts that it will spend GBP£36 million on medicines licensing work during 2010-11 and a further GBP£3 million on the regulation of clinical trials, GBP£1 million dealing with manufacturer and wholesale dealer license applications, variations and export certificates, and GBP£8 million on conducting inspections

Lastly, an additional GBP£29 million will be spent on activities relating to pharmacovigilance, borderline products, enforcement and work with the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and expert advisory groups.


ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Profit Driven Swine Flu Propaganda - Pump Up the Volume Part IV


Pic: nydailynews.com



"Those in control of the mainstream media have joined together with public health officials to provide the pharmaceutical industry with the best swine flu promotional campaign that money can buy."

Part IV of Evie Pringle's Swine Flu Propaganda can be read in full HERE

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Monday, October 26, 2009

ALERT: Special Swine Flu Update [60 Minutes]

Hat-Tip Steph Gatchell



Watch CBS News Videos Online

More HERE

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Sunday, October 25, 2009

November - Sara Carlin




During the month of November I am going to dedicate most of my time to the Sara Carlin inquest which begins on November the 2nd in Ontario, Canada.

This particular case is one that I have followed closely since I first learned of Sara's death via an article in the Oakville Beaver, a newspaper that serves the Oakville area of Toronto.

To read more about Sara, please follow the links below.



Sara Carlin: A life cut way too short... Paxil Suicide


Sara Carlin R.I.P. 21st July


Sara Carlin's Parents Call For Inquest


Canadian Activist Calls For Sara Carlin Support!


Sara Carlin Update


Canadian Activist Speaks Out


More on Sara Carlin Inquest


Ontario: Dr. Andrew McCallum. I salute you.


Concerned Canadian Citizen [Email to Health Canada]


Glaxo in the hot seat... again!


Sara Carlin - Preliminary Hearing [Inquest]

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Friday, October 23, 2009

GlaxoSmithKline - Quite a Tainted History [In Video]

I first dabbled with making videos for youtube a while back - one caused a bit of controversy, so much so that Glaxo lawyers complained - see Pharmalot, one of many websites that picked up on the story at the time.

Recently I set out to make another video that featured newspaper stories regarding GlaxoSmithKline and their somewhat tainted history. To my surprise I couldn't find an accompanying song quite long enough so had to make three videos.

It astounds me that such a company as GlaxoSmithKline with so much bad press is still in operation. No prosecutions, as far as I am aware, have ever taken place. After watching all three videos you may ask the same question that I have been asking myself - Why?

The song is Motorhead's, 'Just Cos You Got the Power'... [That Don't Mean You Got the Right] - lyrics beneath the videos.

How Powerful are GlaxoSmithKline? Part I


How Powerful are GlaxoSmithKline? Part II


How Powerful are GlaxoSmithKline? Part III



You might be a financial wizard,
With a sack of loot,
But all I see is a slimy lizard,
With an expensive suit,
Go on and run your corporation,
Go on and kiss some ass,
You can buy half of the nation,
But you can't buy class

You bastards think it's funny,
Lyin' and thieving all your life,
Think all there is is money,
Got your future wrapped up tight,
But Just 'Cos You Got The Power,
That don't mean you got the right

You can take my fingers buddy,
You can take my eyes,
You can take my past and future,
They won't make you wise,
You can have me thrown in jail,
You can steal my booze,
You can even steal my mail,
Step on my blue suede shoes,

You bastards might be clever,
Got it mapped out in black and white,
But remember you can't ever,
Teach a dog to stand up-right,
And Just 'Cos You Got The Power,
That don't mean you got the right
And Just Cos' You Got The Power,
That don't mean you got the right,

Oh no, oh no, shoot me down

Go on out make another deal,
Feed your big fat face,
Go on out and cop a feel,
Get on somebody's case,
You surely could be satisfied,
If you could get it all,
But time ain't on your side,
You're going to the wall

You think that life's just dollars,
On with greed and lust and spite,
But I wasn't born to follow,
Like to get my sleep at night,
I surely do,
Just 'Cos You Got The Power,
That don't mean you got the right,
Just Cos' You Got The Power,
That don't men you got the right,
Just Cos' You Got The Power,
That don't mean you got the right.

WĂ¼rzel, Campbell, Lemmy, Taylor


Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

CANADIAN GOV FACTS ON THE SWINE H1N1 FLU vaccine, mercury and adjuvants confirmed!

A CALL TO www.nlm-lnm.gc.ca to ask if Mercury really is in Canada's batch of H1N1 flu vaccine being strongly recommended to pregnant women and young children as well as native communities.




Ties in nicely with Evie Pringle's third instalment of Profit Driven Swine Flu Propaganda - Pump Up the Volume

Part I

Part II

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

How Powerful are GlaxoSmithKline? Part II



Part I HERE

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Press release: Safety monitoring programme up and running for swine flu vaccines




The MHRA have today issued a press release with regard to its Adverse Drug Reaction [ADR] website for reporting suspected side effects to H1N1 [swine flu]

MHRA Chief Executive Kent Woods said, “The MHRA’s first and main priority is to promote and safeguard public health. Even when the balance of benefit and risk is overwhelmingly favourable, as for the swine flu vaccine, we are committed to rapid evaluation of all new information.

“Our robust systems enable real-time safety monitoring and we encourage people to use the Swine Flu Portal to enable quick and effective analysis. We will make this information available to the public regularly on our website.”

Full story and downloadable document HERE

For those that don't know, the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix, is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline [GSK]

Seeing as MHRA CEO Kent Woods speaks of Risk/Benefit ratio, I think it only fair to add a link to Evelyn Pringle's 2nd investigative look into, what she terms, 'The swine flu propaganda'. Part one can be read HERE, whilst part two is available HERE

...Meantime, the MHRA have still not yet made a statement regarding GlaxoSmithKline being found guilty of manufacturing a drug that causes birth defects!

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

How Powerful are GlaxoSmithKline? Part I



Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

8 months - Two Hours With Matthew

Please lend some words of support to the Schultz family. They have lost two sons in 8 months.

http://twohours.wordpress.com/2009/10/22/8-months/

Fid

Read the new book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear...The Seroxat Scandal

By Bob Fiddaman

ISBN: 978-1-84991-120-7
CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD HERE


PAPERBACK COMING SOON

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Profit Driven Swine Flu Propaganda - Pump Up the Volume Part 1


Photo from Ben Chau’s Self Portrait series (Flickr)


by: Evelyn Pringle, health freedom writer.

The pharmaceutical industry, with public health officials and the mainstream media acting as a mass marketing team, is about to pull off the biggest profiteering scheme in the history of the world. The swine flu hoax, perpetrated on a global level, will generate unheard of profits from a non-existent pandemic.

The Obama administration declared the spread of swine flu a public health emergency on April 26, 2009. The Associated Press reported that "Swine flu is now formally a pandemic, a declaration by U.N. health officials that will speed vaccine production and spur government spending to combat the first global flu epidemic in 41 years," on June 11, 2009.

Continued HERE

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Sara Carlin - Preliminary Hearing [Inquest]





Yesterday Dr. Bert Lauwers, the coroner involved in the Sara Carlin inquest, heard submissions in order to decide whether Drug Safety Canada [DSC], chaired by Terence Young, should be given standing at the inquest.

A party with standing can call witnesses and cross examine witnesses for other parties with standing. The presiding Coroner heard a very good & detailed submission from the DSC lawyer Peter Rosenthal as to why DSC should be given standing due to the organization’s unique expertise in the area of prescription drug safety and that they are the only party seeking standing for the public interest.

Health Canada is not seeking standing [quite arrogant if you ask me]. The other parties with standing are GlaxoSmithKline and the lawyer for the doctors who have no particular interest in protecting the public.

The coroner also heard submission from Amani Oakley, the Carlin family lawyer supporting the DSC application for standing. Not surprising The lawyers for both GlaxoSmithKline and the doctors in this case, both gave submissions that are not in support of DSC. Bottom line is they probably don’t want in DSC for fear of what might come out about Paxil, the drug that Sara was taking when she killed herself.

The lawyers for the Carlin’s also told the coroner that they will ask for Dr. David Healy to be called as the family’s medical expert. The Coroner will probably deliver his rulings on these matters within the next several days.

**Drug Safety Canada's lawyer, Peter Rosenthal, represented Dr David Healy when he sued the University of Toronto in 2001 [CAMH rescinded a job offer after Healy gave a talk on SSRI & suicide]

It comes as no surprise that Glaxo lawyers are not supporting the request for Drug Safety Canada to stand at the inquest. It's Chairman, Terrence Young, has long been an advocate regarding the way prescription drugs are handed out to teens in Canada. His daughter, Vanessa, died at the age of 15 after taking a stomach pill called Prepulsid. She was on the medication to treat an eating disorder.

Prepulsid was not supposed to be given to people with eating disorders because it can cause severe, and sometimes fatal, heart disturbances.

Sara Carlin was prescribed Paxil, she should not have been. To highlight this, the Carlin's wish for an experienced head to support and offer information to the inquest.

Glaxo don't want them to.

It's bad enough having to go through that fateful day again - worse still when Paxil manufacturer object to this poor family offering as much information as possible to the coroner.

Personally, I hope the Carlin's get David Healy on board. Lawyers in the Tobin v SmithKline case and more recently in the Kilker v GSK case know how influential his expert evidence can be.

Sara Carlin should not have died. No doubt it will be argued that she was depressed and that's why she killed herself. She took Paxil, a drug that was not recommended for kids her age. The jury in the inquest will be made aware why it was not recommended - they SHOULD be made aware why GlaxoSmithKline took an eternity for this information to come out - had they acted with speed and efficiency and not suppressed data [Paxil Study 329] then Sara's doctor's would have surely known how dangerous this SSRi was. They practically handed Sara a piece of rope when they prescribed her Paxil.

As for GlaxoSmithKline, the fact that they have recently been found guilty of Paxil causing heart defects in children won't bode well for them - they wasn't forthcoming with that information either!

The full inquest into Sara Carlin's death starts on November 2nd 2009. Throughout the month of November this blog will be reporting on the proceedings.

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

GSK AND KOL's MONSTER MASH

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!


Featuring [in no particular order]

Alistair Benbow
JP Garnier
Andrew Witty
Martin Keller
Joseph Biederman

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Dr Michael Corry needs your support

Seroxat Secrets blog is currently running a story regarding Dr Michael Corry.

Seroxat Secrets writes:

"Shane Clancy is a young guy who stabbed 2 people and murdered another, then stabbed himself to death in a frenzied attack recently in Ireland, his parents blame the SSRI he was taking at the time for his behavior and there has been huge media interest in the story in Ireland. Dr Michael Corry said live on TV that it was likely the SSRI that made Shane Clancy go on the violent rampage. Now it seems that an unnamed ’senior psychiatrist’ has made a ridiculous complaint against Dr Corry."

It's well worth a read and further highlights the dangers of SSRi's and the ignorance of just how dangerous this family of drugs can be.

Read the full story on Seroxat Secrets

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Monday, October 19, 2009

Glaxo in the hot seat... again!






With one recent strike against them, GlaxoSmithKline and their miracle pill, Seroxat, face further scrutiny...this time in a Canadian Coroner's Court.

On November the 2nd Sara Carlin will finally be given a voice and hopefully recommendations will be made to how doctors prescribe drugs and how the Canadian medicine regulator [Health Canada] regulates them.

The Toronto Sun runs with the headline, 'What sent Sara over the edge?'

Sara took her own life on May the 6th, 2007. She had been prescribed Seroxat.

This blog will be keeping a close eye on proceedings from November. Preliminary proceedings for the inquest begin tomorrow.

Read the Toronto Sun article HERE

Fid

Here's a small montage I made that highlights Canada's own SSRi and other antidepressant problems.



ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Open Email to CEO of MHRA re GlaxoSmithKline and Seroxat

Dear Mr Woods [and others copied in on this email]

As you will now be aware GlaxoSmithKline have once again been found guilty of withholding important information with regard to their best-selling antidepressant, Seroxat.

As a concerned citizen of the United Kingdom and former Seroxat user I would like to know if the MHRA intend to prosecute GlaxoSmithKline for this particular crime.

You will be aware that a jury in Pennsylvania, United States, found by a majority of 10 to 2 that GlaxoSmithKline were negligent in not warning the mother of Lyam Kilker about the dangers of taking Seroxat whilst pregnant. The jury also found that Seroxat was the causation of Lyam Kilker being born with heart defects. You may wish to read the deposition of Jane Nieman [former GSK Executive] - Your current employee, Dr Ian Hudson even gets a mention!

Now, the way I see it Mr Woods, is that Seroxat and GlaxoSmithKline will pay the Kilker family the compensation awarded then go about their daily business in their usual manner.

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Friday, October 16, 2009

KILKER V GLAXOSMITHKLINE - ALL DOCUMENTS NOW AVAILABLE

All documents to the Kilker v GlaxoSmithKline trial have now been uploaded to the Tracey Law Firm website

The documents are thus:

COURT TRANSCRIPTS

9/15/09 AM: Opening Statements
9/15/09 PM: David Healy, M.D. -- Direct Examination
9/16/09 AM: David Healy, M.D. -- Direct (continued)
9/17/09 AM: David Healy, M.D. -- Cross Examination
9/17/09 PM: David Healy, M.D. -- Recross; Redirect
9/18/09 AM: Suzanne Parisian, M.D. -- Direct Examination
9/18/09 PM: Suzanne Parisian, M.D. -- Direct (continued)
9/22/09 AM: Suzanne Parisian, M.D. -- Cross Examination
9/22/09 PM: Suzanne Parisian, M.D. -- Redirect; Recross
9/21/09 AM: Shira Kramer, Ph.D. -- Direct Examination
9/21/09 PM: Shira Kramer, Ph.D. -- Direct (continued); Cross Examination; Redirect
9/23/09 AM: Ra-id Abdulla, M.D. -- Direct Examination
9/23/09 PM: Ra-id Abdulla, M.D. -- Cross Examination; Redirect
9/29/09 AM: Anthony Scialli, M.D. -- Direct Examination
9/29/09 PM: Anthony Scialli, M.D. -- Cross Examination
9/30/09 AM: Anthony Scialli, M.D. -- Redirect; Recross
9/30/09 AM: Stephen Hobbiger, BSC -- Direct Examination
9/30/09 PM: Stephen Hobbiger, BSC -- Cross Examination; Redirect
10/1/09 AM: H. Scott Baldwin, M.D. -- Direct Examination
10/1/09 PM: H. Scott Baldwin, M.D. -- Cross; Redirect; Recross
10/2/09 AM: Judith Jones, M.D., PhD -- Direct Examination
10/2/09 AM: Judith Jones, M.D., PhD -- Cross Exaination; Redirect
10/6/09 AM: Gary Shaw, PhD -- Direct Examination
10/6/09 PM: Gary Shaw, PhD -- Cross Examination; Redirect
10/8/09 AM: Closing Arguments -- Plaintiff & Defendant
10/8/09 PM: Closing Arguments -- Plaintiff Rebuttle & Jury Charge


Plaintiff's Experts:

Ra-id Abdulla, M.D., Pediatric Cardiologist, Professor of Pediatrics, Rush University in Chicago

David Healy, M.D., FRCPsych, Neuropyschopharmacologist, Professor of Psychiatry, Cardiff University,University Hospital Wales North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine

Valerie Parisi, RN, Lifecare Planner

Suzanne Parisian, M.D., former FDA employee

Shira Kramer, Ph.D., Epidemiologist




Defendant's Experts:

H. Scott Baldwin, M.D., Pediatric Cardiologist, Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Stephen Hobbiger, BSC, Vice President of Neuroscience, Global Clinical Safety & Pharmaco Vigilance

Judit Jones, M.D., Ph.D., FDA expert, Clinical Pharmacologist, Pharmacoepidemiologist

Anthony Sciali, M.D., OB/GYN, Reproductive Toxicologist, George Washington University

Gary Shaw, Ph.D., Epidemiologist

**An edited version of Jane Nieman's [Glaxo Ex-Executive] Testimony can be downloaded HERE

Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Thursday, October 15, 2009

**Exclusive - Jane Nieman, Glaxo Ex-Executive Testimony Scoop

The Kilker case may have just ended, pending an appeal of course, but what of the remaining court documents that have yet to surface?

Court transcripts from the 9th Sept to the 23rd Sept can be found HERE

But what about the testimony given by ex Glaxo executive, Jane Nieman?

After analyzing a 2001 e-mail from a Paxil user who aborted her fetus because it had a heart defect, Glaxo officials noted in company files they were “almost certain” the drug was related to the problem, Jane Nieman, a former Glaxo drug-safety executive, told a Pennsylvania jury.

Nieman testified in a videotaped deposition.

I now have a copy of her deposition. Certain elements have been removed because they are protected by law.

I won't reveal my source but can assure the readers of this blog that this is the genuine article.

Please feel free to circulate



Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Seroxat: a patient's testimony


Photograph: Jack Sullivan/Alamy


The following article appears in today's Guardian and was written by Sara Boseley.

The documents cited by lawyers representing the family of Lyam Kilker as evidence that GSK knew about the problems with Seroxat back in 2001


A jury in the US today found that Seroxat (known as Paxil in the US), the antidepressant made by the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), was responsible for heart defects Lyam Kilker developed in the womb while his mother was taking the medication. Lyam's family was awarded $2.5 million (£1.6m) in damages.

The following documents, disclosed by GSK, were cited in court by lawyers representing the family of three-year-old Lyam, as evidence to back up their claim that pharmaceutical company GSK knew about the problems with Paxil back in 2001.

This first email is from an unidentified woman (not Lyam Kilker's mother) to GSK at the end of May 2001.

"I was diagnosed with panic disorder about four-and-a-half years ago. Since that time I've been taking Paxil, which is truly a miracle drug. I've been panic-free with this drug and have been able to go on with a normal life.

"I was married in October of 2000. My husband and I found out we were pregnant at Christmas time. I was so excited. I love children. The only problem is that I carried the baby to six months gestation and then had to have a termination.

"The doctors diagnosed my son with Truncus arteriosis. They said he would not lead a normal childhood and would most likely not make it through the open heart surgery that he would need as soon as he was delivered (if he was able to make it to that time).

"To say the least, I was absolutely distraught with this news. I thought this was something that I did [...] because I stayed on the Paxil for selfish reasons.

"I wanted to know if you could direct me to any information you might have of any woman that has taken Paxil and still had healthy babies.

"My husband and I are ready to try again to get pregnant in the next monthor two. I am so nervous. I don't want to stop taking my miracle pill. But, then again, if there is a chance that this might hurt or affect the baby, I want to know upfront. And I will somehow stop taking it for the time being.

"Please contact me as soon as possible. I love everything this drug has done for me. I am so thankful that your company had this available for me. I just want to continue to have a normal life and have the child that I always wanted.

"Please contact me as soon as possible ... Please don't forget about me."

The woman sent a second email, on 1 June 2001.

"This response is in regards to an e-mail that I had sent you previously. I was asking to see if you have any or are in the process of any clinical trials for women who are currently on Paxil and pregnant. I wanted to find out information to see how many women were on Paxil during pregnancy and if they were able to successfully have healthy babies.

"I am in no way insinuating your product did this to my child. I love the product, and I don't think I could have gotten through my panic attacks without the wonderful help of this miracle drug.

"I just want to start to try and get pregnant again soon. I do not want to put my unborn child through anything that would hurt him/her.

"Please, if you do not have this information, where is this information held? Does anyone do studies like this? Please, any information you may give me would be great. Thanks again for your help."

The following GSK internal memo from June 2001 refers to her emails.

"Report 2001014040-1 describes the occurrence of a terminated pregnancy in a female of unknown age prescribed paroxetine (Paxil) for panic disorder.

"This report was received from the patient and has not been confirmed by a physician or other health care professional. Concurrent medications and medical conditions were not known.

"Four-and-a-half years ago, the patient started Paxil (dose unknown). Since taking Paxil, the patient noted she has been panic-free and has been able to go on with a normal life.

"Patient discovered she was pregnant in December 2000 while being treated with Paxil. However, she reported that at six months gestation the pregnancy had to be terminated because the fetus was diagnosed as having Truncus arteriosis.

"Her physician told her that the child would not lead a normal childhood and would most likely not make it through the open heart surgery that he would need as soon as he was delivered, if he was able to make it to that time."

GSK emailed the following response to the woman on 6 June 2001.

"Thank you for your inquiry. We are attaching a copy of our current product information for Paxil. Please review the section on use during pregnancy.

"Further questions about your treatment should be directed to the physician, pharmacist or healthcare provider who has the most complete information about your medical condition.

"Because patient care is individualised, we encourage patients to direct questions about their medical condition and treatment to their physician.

"We believe that because your physician knows your medical history, he or she is best suited to answer your questions.

"Our drug information department is available to answer any questions your physician or pharmacist may have about our products. Your healthcare professional can call our drug information department ..."

But an internal GSK internal document relating to the correspondence, headed "re-investigation of case number A0348482B", dated 13 June 2001, states: "Relatedness assessment to medication – almost certain."

In court, senior GSK officers in court said this apparent admission that the drug was responsible for the defects in the aborted baby was a mistake. They told the court somebody must have ticked the wrong box. GSK said it would appeal against today's jury verdict.

Original article HERE

Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Paxhell for Birth Defect Child, Manie Edgington





With one case out of a possible 632 going against them, GlaxoSmithKline are oblivious to the many children whose daily routines have been blighted by their blockbuster selling drug, Paxil [Seroxat in UK].

With a jury finding the world's second biggest pharmaceutical company guilty of negligently failing to warn about the dangers of Paxil in pregnancy and being found guilty of manufacturing a drug that was a “factual cause” in Lyam Kilker being born with heart defects, one would think an apology of some sort was in order. Instead, we hear that GlaxoSmithKline are to appeal against the recent decision. No surprise there, Glaxo's highly paid law team wouldn't be doing their job if they just threw in the towel at this stage.

During the first week or so of the Kilker v GSK trial, Glaxo lawyers called for a mistrial on 5 separate occasions, this figure may be higher as I have only seen the court documents from the 15th Sept to 23rd Sept. They may have made further motions for a mistrial after the 23rd - hopefully more documents will be coming soon.

The Kilker family were awarded $2.5 million, it seems a lot, but when you consider the medical expenses they have already endured, it's a very small pittance.

The jury's decision has made way for a further 632 cases brought against GlaxoSmithKline, one such case being that of 5 year old Manie Edgington from Iowa.

Manie was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries [TGA]. His mother, Julie, briefly explains about TGA on her blog, Big Pharma Victim. She writes:

"TGA means the aorta and pulmonary arteries in the heart are switched. When a child is born with TGA there is very little oxygen in the blood. The aorta receives the oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle, but it's carried back to the body without receiving more oxygen. The pulmonary artery receives the oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle but carries it back to the lungs."

During the past few days, Julie, her husband and 5 children have made a 600 mile round trip to Wisconsin to see a heart specialist. 5 year old Manie has been getting leg and arm cramps plus a whole host of other complaints. The Wisconsin specialist now wants Manie to have a cardiac cath to try and determine why he keeps getting leg and arm cramps. "A cath, Julie writes, is a procedure whereby a small camera is placed inside the artery which runs along the inside of Manie's leg all the up to his heart where they can look at everything."

Not very pleasant huh?

Julie also writes, "Manie also has a leaky heart valve caused by open heart surgery do to the TGA Paxil caused." She continues, "Every time they try and try to see the pulmonary vessels but they can never view them. This is because when you have had your arteries switched, like Manie has, those vessels are just hidden. Well it seem that these very vessels just may be what is causing Manies problems. This was found out in Wisconsin due to the fact the Dr. could hear some problems in that area when listening to Manie's heart. Ahhh haaa makes sense huh."

A simple MRI or CAT scan would be useful for the 5 year old but this avenue has been closed to Manie due to Manie having coils in his chest which could interfere with the expensive machinery. Julie writes, "If Manie had never had the collateral's which required coils then the Dr. may be able to do a MRI or CAT scan to see the vessels. The coils Manie has in his chest will cause interference with the machines which means a pretty messed up picture of a whole lot of nothing. So until we have a cardiac cath done we really just don't know whats going on."

Manie is one of approx 632 children who suffer on a daily basis. Manie, like the other 632 children, all share one common factor. They were all exposed to Paxil during varying stages of their foetal growth.

GlaxoSmithKline deny that Paxil has anything to do with these children being born with heart defects. They denied that Paxil had anything to do with Lyam Kilker being born with heart defects, despite being found guilty, they still deny.

I don't know about you but I am left scratching my head. If you or I were found guilty of a crime we would have every right to appeal, but when a punishment had been handed down to us for that crime any appeal would surely come from behind the bars of a prison if we were ever given a custodial sentence. We certainly wouldn't be given the opportunity to defend ourselves in the media, as Glaxo seem to be doing.

They had their chance to defend themselves in court, their law team could not defend them - they lost.

The only losers in this are these children. It's really not as simple as 'Child A' was born with a defect. 'Child A' will have to go through life visiting specialists, having operations and being restricted in what they can or can't do. Their parents will wake every morning, they won't be heading for the coffee, first stop will be their child's bedroom just to see if he/she made it through the night.

Manie Edgington is fighting against something that he should not be fighting against, he fights for survival. A 600 mile round trip from Iowa to Wisconsin should not be in Manie's itinerary. He should be playing with his brothers, sisters and friends and leading a normal life. His serious heart defect prevents him from doing this.

I salute Manie, Lyam and the other 632 children. I salute their parents too and if Glaxo are found guilty in all of these cases I shall be saluting them too... only that salute will be two fingered!

Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

More on Glaxo Failure

This from AM Law Litigation Daily


We reached Sean Tracey of the The Tracey Law Firm, who represented Kilker and his mother, Michelle David, in Philadelphia following the verdict. He told us he had earlier quizzed jurors in the case on what had swayed their decision. "They said the fact that GSK never adequately studied their own drug was a big deal," Tracey said. "The animal testing they did showed that they had a potential problem, and they didn't follow up with adequate studies on animals or humans."

More HERE



Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

Good Morning King & Spalding

Bad luck in the Kilker case.

I see your client has appealed against the decision. 10 out of the 12 jurors seem to think your clients are guilty. Any chance the public can get to see those sealed files that were opened in court? Is this why your client has appealed against the decision?

Just curious.

$2.5 million will hardly break your client's bank account will it?

You see, the jury sided with the poor child, Lyam Kilker. You remember him don't you? He is the kid born with serious heart defects because of your client's failure to warn his and other pregnant mothers about their drug Paxil.

What was it the jury found now? Shall I refresh your memory?

“negligently failed to warn” the doctor treating Lyam’s mother about Paxil’s risks and concluded the medicine was a “factual cause” of the child’s heart defects.

Will you be defending your client in the other 632 cases brought against them regarding Paxil causing birth defects?

Will your client seek an alternative law team seeing as you couldn't win the Kilker case for them - despite all your 'objections' and calls for a mistrial!

The offer of dinner at my place is still on the table.

I'm guessing this appeal will be quietly settled - you just need a big news day so the settlement can be lost in a small column in the press eh? Isn't that how it works with law firms like yourself? I may be wrong, you may genuinely believe your client is telling the truth.

Can't wait to see all those court documents.

Enjoy your cornflakes.



Well good morning judge, how are you today
Im in trouble, please put me away
A pretty thing took a shine to me
I couldnt stop her so I let it be
I couldnt stop her so I let it be
I couldnt stop her so I let it be
I couldnt stop her so I let it be
He didnt do it, he wasnt there
He didnt want it, he wouldnt dare
Well good morning judge, yes Im back again
Im in trouble, so its back to the pen
I found a car but I couldnt pay
I fell in love and I drove it away
I fell in love and I drove it away
I fell in love and I drove it away
I fell in love and I drove it away
He didnt do it, he wasnt there
He didnt want it, he wouldnt dare
I didnt do it, I wasnt there
I didnt want it, I wouldnt dare
Alcatraz is like a home sweet home
Im so wanted and Im never alone
San quentin is the place to be
Im so happy I dont wanna be free
So happy I dont wanna be free
So happy I dont wanna be free
So happy I dont wanna be free

Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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GSK Press Release - Kilker Trial

The following is a statement from GSK regarding the Jury verdict in the recent Kilker v GSK trial.

It is taken from the US GSK website.

GSK Statement on Jury Verdict in Paxil Product Liability Trial in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

On October 13, 2009, a jury in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas returned a verdict against GlaxoSmithKline in a case alleging that Lyam Kilker was born with a rare heart defect as a result of his mother’s use of Paxil during pregnancy.

GlaxoSmithKline disagrees with the verdict and will appeal. While we sympathize with Lyam Kilker and his family, the scientific evidence does not establish that exposure to Paxil during pregnancy caused his condition. Very unfortunately, birth defects occur in three to five percent of all live births, whether or not the mother was taking medication during pregnancy.

GlaxoSmithKline acted properly and responsibly in conducting its clinical trial program for Paxil, including sharing documentation and submitting results from studies on Paxil to regulators. Once approved for use, the company acted properly in marketing the medicine, including monitoring its safety, updating pregnancy information in the medicine’s labeling as new information became available, and in communicating important safety information to regulatory agencies, the scientific community and the public.

US Media enquiries:

Nancy Pekarek

(919) 483 2839

Mary Anne Rhyne

(919) 483 2839

Kevin Colgan

(919) 483 2839

Sarah Alspach

(919) 483 2839




Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Glaxo Guilty! Now let's see the emails.

It should really come as no surprise that GlaxoSmithKline have once again been found guilty of withholding evidence that could have protected human life - yet again, the drug concerned is their multi-billion dollar baby Paxil [Seroxat].

Last year the Medicines Healthcare and products Regulatory Agency [MHRA] found that Glaxo had not been quick enough to come forward with data that showed that Paxil could cause suicide in children. The MHRA farce of an investigation [because that's what it was] took 4 years to come to this conclusion. The outcome - a slap on the wrists for GlaxoSmithKline. MHRA will argue that it was more than that - a change in future legislation will be their strong point.

I don't really care much for legislation, not when it is going to be used as some sort of point scoring moral victory. Children died and reached the pits of despair because they were given Paxil - something the MHRA should remember.

Step forward one year.

Once again - Glaxo under scrutiny - this time it wasn't the safety of children parents had to worry about, we, as parents and citizens didn't need to worry about that any more - there was an even bigger lie from the makers of Paxil. This time GlaxoSmithKline had failed to warn pregnant mother's that taking Paxil could cause birth defects in their foetus!

Surely not?

Not even Glaxo could stoop to such a level.

Well 10 out of 12 jurors have deemed that they indeed did. [GSK V Kilker]

It took them about seven hours, over two days, before finding Glaxo failed to properly warn doctors and pregnant users of Paxil’s risk. It took the MHRA 4 years to reach a similar decision!

The jury found that GlaxoSmithKline had “negligently failed to warn” the doctor treating Lyam’s [Kilker] mother about Paxil’s risks and concluded the medicine was a “factual cause” of the child’s heart defects.

So there we have it. Paxil, Seroxat, Aropax, the drug that goes by many different names worldwide, CAN cause heart defects if taken by pregnant mothers.

Emails shown as evidence in court showed how GlaxoSmithKline knew about this but [once again] failed in their duty to tell anyone about it.

So, where are the emails? Will the public get a chance to see them? I do hope the Judge presiding has seen sense and not kept them sealed.

Lyam Kilker came into this world with a handicap. He will live the rest of his life with this handicap because GlaxoSmithKline failed to tell his mother that taking their medication could cause her foetus some serious damage such as a severe heart defect.

I am cooking a very special meal tonight. I am throwing some meat into two big pots, add some onions and maybe a can of soup in each of the pots. Hell, I may even be a little adventurous and add some curry powder to both.

I'll invite some friends around but before I do, I may slip something extra into one of the pots. Cyanide is a fast acting poison, I believe?

Now, I will know which of the pots contains the cyanide but shall I tell my group of friends or shall I just sit back and watch them eat?

GlaxoSmithKline sat back, they sat and watched as children were born time after time with serious heart defects. They did nothing.

Despite the outcome of the trial [Glaxo being found guilty] they STILL deny they did anything wrong.

Dinner will soon be served at my place. My door is open to GlaxoSmithKline.


Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Glaxo Ordered to Pay $2.5 Million for Paxil Defects




THEY FAILED TO WARN PREGNANT MOTHERS ABOUT PAXIL'S DANGERS.

UTTERLY DESPICABLE ACT!




Just in from Bloomberg!



GlaxoSmithKline Plc must pay $2.5 million over claims that its Paxil antidepressant caused birth defects, a Pennsylvania jury concluded in the first of 600 such cases to come to trial.

Jurors in state court in Philadelphia deliberated about seven hours over two days before finding Glaxo failed to properly warn doctors and pregnant users of Paxil’s risk. The panel awarded $2.5 million in compensatory damages to the family of Lyam Kilker. The 3-year-old was born with heart defects his mother blamed on the drug.

“The first win is always huge, especially when you get a jury saying the drug caused the injury,” Sean Tracey, the family’s lawyer, said in an interview after the verdict.

It’s the first time a jury has considered claims that Glaxo, the U.K.’s largest drugmaker, knew Paxil caused birth defects and hid the risk to increase profits. The drug, approved for U.S. use in 1992, generated about $942 million in sales last year, or 2.1 percent of Glaxo’s total revenue.

The company disagrees with the verdict and will appeal, Kevin Colgan, a spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement.

“While we sympathize with Lyam Kilker and his family, the scientific evidence does not establish that exposure to Paxil during pregnancy caused his condition,” Colgan said.

Glaxo’s provision for legal and other nontax disputes as of June 30 was 1.7 billion pounds ($2.8 billion), it said in a July 22 regulatory filing that didn’t mention the Paxil litigation.

Heart Defects’ Cause

In the Kilker case, jurors found 10-2 that Glaxo officials “negligently failed to warn” the doctor treating Lyam’s mother about Paxil’s risks and concluded the medicine was a “factual cause” of the child’s heart defects.

The Philadelphia Common Pleas Court panel also found that Glaxo’s handling of the drug wasn’t “outrageous,” meaning the family couldn’t seek punitive damages against the drugmaker.

Glaxo is also fighting suits in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. over claims that Paxil, whose generic name is paroxetine, causes homicidal and suicidal behavior. The company settled some suicide claims, under undisclosed terms.

Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Sunday, October 11, 2009

Inquest into the Death of Sara Carlin





The inquest into the death of Ontario's Sara Carlin begins on November 2nd. The Oakville Beaver, a local newspaper that serves the residents of Oakville, Ontario reports that the inquest will 'focus on the role of selective antidepressants in teenage suicides.' I believe this to be incorrect as Sara's death was Paxil/Seroxat related. No doubt further press releases will clarify this.

I first started writing about the death of Sara Carlin in July 2008 when I read an article in the Oakville Beaver, 'Sara Carlin: A life cut way too short'

Sara took her life on May 6th 2007, she was just 18.

Initially, Regional Supervising Coroner, Dr. David Evans, denied Sara's parents, Neil and Rhonda, request for a public inquest claiming that 'an inquest must serve the public interest' and 'such an inquest into Sara’s death would not do that.' He also said a jury would not make useful recommendations that could prevent similar deaths in the future.

A Canadian advocate was so incensed that she wrote to the Canadian Medicine regulator, Health Canada. I, myself, aired my disgust and even awarded Dr. David Evans the Seroxat Sufferers Dumbass Award.

Neil and Rhonda also met with Ontario’s newly-appointed Chief Coroner, Dr. Andrew McCallum, as part of an appeal process to the regional coroner’s decision.

Thankfully on Dec 31, 2008 the Oakville Beaver reported that both Neil and Rhonda were granted request into the death of their daughter.

I shall be watching this inquest with a keen interest. I have nothing but admiration for the grit and determination shown by the Carlin's.

Sara should never have been prescribed Paxil. Her care was put into the hands of the medical profession who, like millions of other doctors world-wide, just do not know how dangerous this particular SSRi can be in children.

I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like to lose a child - for parents to practically beg for an inquest means there is something drastically wrong with the system - we already know there is something drastically wrong with Paxil - hopefully the inquest will recommend to doctors that they need to be made aware of this too!

For more on Sara Carlin read the links at the foot of this post.

Fid

SEROXAT SUFFERERS STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
Beware of Obsessive freaks posting as me

*GSK INTERNAL FILES BLOG

JULY 2009 SSRI WITHDRAWAL GUIDE BY DAVID HEALY




Sara Carlin: A life cut way too short... Paxil Suicide


Sara Carlin R.I.P. 21st July


Sara Carlin's Parents Call For Inquest


Canadian Activist Calls For Sara Carlin Support!


Sara Carlin Update


Canadian Activist Speaks Out


More on Sara Carlin Inquest


Ontario: Dr. Andrew McCallum. I salute you.


Concerned Canadian Citizen [Email to Health Canada]



ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Big Bucks Big Pharma

How pharmaceutical companies market the disease... then the cure.

Running Time: 1hr 8Mins




Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Saturday, October 10, 2009

Pharmalot is back!

Great news for advocates... not so great for pharma.

I shall look forward to reading Ed Silverman's posts soon.

Pharmalot announcement


Welcome back Ed.

Fid

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**COUGH COUGH** I GOT THE FLU!


Pic: Lincoln County Health


How does the start of that annoying Wet Wet Wet song go? "I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes"

I got a dose of the flu folks. Hot and cold spells, aching joints, weird dreams...and I mean weird.

Am I bothered? Not really, it's the only time I get a decent sleep, I still wake early but it means I can go back to my cocoon with a hot water bottle, snuggle up to my dog [who incidentally, acted as a hot water bottle the other night] - Phew, I have just realised how the word 'incidentally' looks remarkably similar to the word 'indecently'!

Anyway, hot drinks, cup-a-soups, and some over the counter flu remedy [Not Beechams] should do the trick.

I won't be calling the NHS helpline to be told I have swine flu. God forbid, I ever put my trust in a GlaxoSmithKline product again!

Fid

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Friday, October 09, 2009

DEFINITELY



I based this poem on an old joke I heard.

DEFINITELY

I must tell you this funny story
That happened when I was young.
But first I'll set the scene
With my wagging tongue.

The place was my junior classroom
In my old catholic school
where 9 year old James Clark
Was the child of ridicule.

We were told to recite a sentence
Using teachers chosen expression.
It was said to help our English
And aid us to progression.

'Definitely' was his chosen word
That we had to use.
First to go was my best friend,
A frightened Michael Hughes.

"The sky is 'definitely' blue sir",
Said Michael somewhat proud.
"OH NO IT'S NOT", said teacher,
Raising his voice aloud.

IT'S SOMETIMES GREY & RED
AND AT NIGHT IT'S DEFINITELY BLACK."
He turned and pointed to the rear
Where sat a trembling Jack.

"The grass is 'definitely' green sir,
Came trembling Jack's retort.
"OH NO IT'S NOT, YOU FOOL,
THAT'S IT YOU'RE ON REPORT."

"THE GRASS IS SOMETIMES YELLOW
AND I'VE SEEN IT BROWN.
FOUR O'CLOCK OUTSIDE MY DOOR
NOW WILL YOU PLEASE SIT DOWN."

Then Jimmy raised his hand
And said "Can I have a go?"
Teacher shrugged his shoulders
Then murmured "I suppose so."

"Can I use the toilet first,
I'm dying for a wee,"
Asked poor old little Jimmy
Losing dignity.

"JUST SAY WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY
THEN YOU'LL BE EXCUSED."
Teacher stood there stony faced
He was not amused.

"Okay," said little Jimmy,
Giving teacher a woeful glance.
"If you don't let me use the loo
I'll 'definitely' wet my pants!"

© BOB FIDDAMAN

Fid

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Thursday, October 08, 2009

UK Medicines Regulator - Priorities right?





It kind of frustrates me when I read of stories like this [Rotherham Bodybuilders Sentenced For Selling Steroids]

Okay, it's wrong to sell steroids but c'mon isn't there a company selling far worse?

As a result of this 'drugs bust' two men were both given suspended prison sentences - their crime, conspiring to sell and supply Class C drugs, including human growth hormones.

Now correct me if I am wrong here but the MHRA carried out a four year investigation into GlaxoSmithKline. The investigation focused on whether GSK had failed to inform
the MHRA of information it had on the safety of Seroxat in under 18’s in a timely manner.

In what I saw as a complete whitewash press release, MHRA CEO, Kent Woods, said at the time, “I remain concerned that GSK could and should have reported this information earlier than they did. All companies have a responsibility to patients, and should report any adverse data signals to us as soon as they discover them." The remainder of the press release went on to blame the legislation rather than GSK.

So, to recap. Two men sell steroids and are convicted. A huge pharmaceutical company suppress data regarding a drug that could cause children harm and in some cases death by suicide and the only outcome was a slap on the wrists in the style of 'Whose been a naughty boy then?'

What angers me even more is the statement regarding the two men who were convicted for selling steroids.

This is a gem of a statement from MHRA Head of Operations, Danny Lee-Frost. He said:

"As the UK regulator of medicines, we strive to ensure that only the competent and honest are licensed to deal in medicines, and take swift action against anyone who acts otherwise. Flynn and Taylor endangered the health of the people they supplied, all for their own profit and gain."

I don't think I need to add anything more to this post, do you?

Fid



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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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Teenage girl left brain-damaged after receiving cervical cancer jab


Daily Mail Pic


Source: Daily Mail

A teenage girl has been left brain-damaged after suffering epileptic seizures just days after being given the controversial cervical cancer jab.

Stacey Jones, 18, suffered her first seizure in March when she was 17, days after she had the Cervarix injection.

In the following weeks she had several more fits, causing such severe brain injury that she had to be admitted to a rehabilitation unit, where she is relearning simple tasks.


FULL SHOCKING STORY HERE

Fid

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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SOMEWHERE




Somewhere there is a plane to catch
somewhere the clock is wrong.
In someone's head, somewhere,
lies a well - constructed song.
Somewhere there is an accident,
one second is all it takes.
Somewhere there is a dodgy deal
with poor designer fakes.
Somewhere it's someone's birthday
somewhere somewhere someone has died.
In a Courtroom there's a divorce
at a church a blushing bride.
Somewhere there's someone happy
elsewhere there's someone sad.
Somewhere there's someone like you,
a twin you never had.
Somewhere there is a stolen car
just waiting to be found.
Somewhere there is a deaf mute
longing for a sound.
Somewhere there's cold starvation
somewhere there's greed and lust.
Sometime we'll have a world leader
that we can truly trust.
Somewhere in the universe
there's answers to be found.
Sometime ago man said
the earth was flat not round.
We live our lives in jigsaws
from birth we're on a quest.
Sometime we're going to die.
Somewhere we all shall rest.

© BOB FIDDAMAN

Fid

ORDER THE PAPERBACK
'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
SIGNED COPIES HERE OR UNSIGNED FROM CHIPMUNKA PUBLISHING

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