SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

More coverage of the Sara Carlin Inquest in Canada. This footage sees Sara's father, Neil, speak out and also Oakville MP, Terence Young.

In 2007, Sara Carlin was found in the basement of her family home hanging from the noose of electrical wiring. She had been prescribed Paxil "off-label" one year previous.

It's time for change. It's time for the medicine regulators around the world to show the public that we really are being protected from dangerous drugs such as GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Footage from Global TV Canada

Apologies for the video being slightly out of synch.



Back stories:


Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

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

EXCLUSIVE - SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

Image: Sara Carlin

For all of the Sara Carlin inquest articles in chronological order - Download PDF HERE

Sara Carlin was killed by an electrical cord she wrapped around her neck with her own hands.

That's how the beautiful 18-year-old Oakville teen died May 6, 2007.

But that sad day was only the beginning of a two-year quest by her family to find out if Paxil, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant she was prescribed, helped open an otherwise closed door to suicide.

On day one of the inquest, Coroner's Counsel, Michael Blain, went in front of TV camera's during a short recess in the proceedings. The Courts, he said, acknowledge that this medication can increase thoughts of suicide in particular patients but 'they' don't think that the medication played a role in Sara Carlin's death."

Why would the courts think that before they even had a chance to see all the evidence?

Furthermore, why would the Coroners Counsel appear in front of TV camera's to make this claim?

Footage from CHCH TV, Hamilton, Ontario



On the final day of the Sara Carlin 'Death by Paxil' inquest, Oakville MP, Terence Young testified that patients must be educated about the dangerous side effects of drugs and the possibility of using alternate non-drug treatments.

Lawyer Teresa Walsh, representing Paxil’s makers, GlaxoSmithKline, queried Young on Sara Carlin’s alcohol consumption two years before taking Paxil.

Young balked at the questions, refusing to answer them and noting by Grade 10 alcohol use is widespread.

“It’s irrelevant. You’re planting the earworm (idea) that it’s the alcohol, everything but the Paxil,” replied Young.

You will note from this footage, the complete look of anguish and despair on the faces of Sara's parents, Neil and Rhonda Carlin.

No parent should lose a child to prescription drugs. Furthermore, no parent should have to endure an inquest where lawyers representing the makers of that prescription drug, GlaxoSmithKline, doctors lawyers and even Coroner's Counsel blame the child rather than the medication.

Footage from CHCH TV, Hamilton, Ontario






Back stories:


Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

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 Inquest - Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

Image: Sara Carlin

It's one of them moments where I wished I was a public citizen of Canada. It was a moment that this inquest has been crying out for - someone to tell it like it is.

Enter witness for the Carlin family, Terence Young MP.

I've wrote about Terence before on this blog, or rather the book he wrote entitled, 'Death By Prescription' - my review of this outstanding yet harrowing book can be read on Amazon.

In a nutshell, Terence's daughter, Vanessa, was just 15 when she was prescribed Prepulsid for an eating disorder.

A drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

Terence's story echoes that of Sara Carlin in many ways.

Like Paxil, the Prepulsid side effects were played down its manufacturers.

Like Sara, Vanessa was prescribed this medication off-label by her doctor.

Like the Carlin family, the Young's were never given any warning about the more 'severe' side effects of a drug their daughter had been prescribed.

The two leading newspapers in Ontario reported on yesterday's events at the inquest. The Oakville Beaver, which for the majority of it's coverage has ran with one-sided headlines, and the Toronto Sun, which yesterday ran with the headline, 'MP takes war on drugs to inquest.' The Beaver opting for a more bland headline in, 'Young testifies at Carlin inquest.'

Terence is a father who experienced his daughter die right in front of him. The Carlin's are a family who witnessed their daughter slowly spiral into decline until eventually finding her in the basement of their home hanging from a noose made up of wiring.

I want you all to digest that. It's brutal isn't it. Unthinkable and God forbid we ever have to experience anything like that.

Because many reading this will not have experienced the death of a child this shouldn't make us all turn the other cheek. We should all learn from Sara's inquest. We should all see how pharmaceutical companies and medicine regulators pass the buck and take no responsibility in the drugs they manufacture and grant licence to.

Since covering this tragic case, I have been contacted by many both via email and on Facebook.

Sara's video I created has been viewed over 300 times in just 24 hours, it's made people cry and respond with their stories regarding Paxil and other SSRi type drugs.

Of course, you will always get the odd comment from folk that have had no problem with taking Paxil or withdrawing from it - same way you get smokers who live well into their 80's.

Fact is, Paxil has received so much attention in the media both here and in the United States, the attention hasn't been that favourable.

This inquest is, in essence, to protect children and adolescents in the future. It's a chance for the jury to make recommendations to protect the public.

From day one, GlaxoSmithKline lawyers, doctor's lawyers and even Coroner's Counsel have been so side-tracked by protecting themselves that they really cannot... do not wish to grasp the bigger picture.

The Oakville Beaver also has to take responsibility with it's eye catching pro-Paxil headlines too. They have a responsibility to report to the general public about the dangers of these drugs - much of what the Beaver has wrote has been about Sara's use of alcohol and illegal drugs - they, like the lawyers, it seems, are not protecting any child that may be prescribed Paxil in the future.

Yesterday saw Terence Young eloquently put his position across.

This from the Beaver:

Young spoke of some of the adverse reactions listed on GlaxoSmithKline's product monograph, such as akathisia.

"Akathisia has been described as a horrible torture where you feel like you want to crawl out of your own skin. It's just a living nightmare. It also says Paxil can cause alcohol abuse and depersonalization. This (depersonalization) is perhaps the worst one where you feel like you're watching yourself, but you can't stop what you're doing," said Young.

"We know Paxil causes nightmares."

At this point Paxil manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline's lawyer Teresa Walsh called on the Coroner to restrict Young to the topics he was called to the inquest to testify about.

You see, the mere mention of yet another side-effect, in this instance Akathisia, had the Glaxo lawyer screaming OBJECTION [metaphorically].

Why?

Because GlaxoSmithKline don't want this out in public, it's another adverse reaction Glaxo have played down over the years. It adds more credence to the reasons why Sara did what she did - by objecting, Glaxo lawyer, Teresa Walsh, was merely suppressing the truth from being outed.

I only hope the jury can see past this.

Finally Terence Young hit the nail on the head when he was cross-examined by Walsh.

This from the Toronto Sun:

Lawyer Teresa Walsh, representing Paxil’s makers, queried Young on Sara Carlin’s alcohol consumption two years before taking Paxil.

Young balked at the questions, refusing to answer them and noting by Grade 10 alcohol use is widespread.

“It’s irrelevant. You’re planting the earworm (idea) that it’s the alcohol, everything but the Paxil,” replied Young, who was warned by the coroner to simply answer Walsh’s questions.

GlaxoSmithKline hire the best lawyers money can buy, they have to.

It has occurred to me that there is information Glaxo wish to keep out of the public domain when they hire lawyers to defend the death of a child, an adult or withdrawal effects caused by Paxil - hence the reason they have paid out $1.1 billion dollars in the US alone in out of court settlements and other cases where they have tried to defend Paxil - Schell & Kilker

The Oakville Beaver article can be read HERE

The article from the Toronto Sun, HERE

The inquest concludes Monday with closing arguments.

I'm burned out writing about this inquest - reading about this inquest and what the Carlin's are having to go through is harrowing.

I'm merely a blogger who has been trying to point out the dangers of this drug for the past four years. I'm a member of the public who has took issue with the lack of protection users of Paxil and other SSRi's are getting from the UK regulator, the MHRA.

I hope they are keeping an eye on events in this case. I hope Kent Woods, Sara Morgan and Simon Gregor, three employees of the MHRA I have sat and discussed the issue of withdrawal with, are all sleeping with clear consciences and can return to work on Monday with their heads held high, safe in the knowledge that they have done everything they can to protect children, adolescents and adults in the UK from Seroxat and it's severe side effects.

On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.

Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Nessun Dorma





Fid

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

Coroner's Inquest - Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Image: Sara Carlin



Possible adjective

being something that may or may not occur

Probable likely to be or become true or real

Confused?

Not as much as the jury in the current Sara Carlin inquest in Ontario, Canada.

Yesterday's events have been reported in the 'Dramatic headline seeking newspaper that serves Ontario, The Oakville Beaver.

Today they run with, 'Expert and family friend disagree on impact of Paxil'

Not bad considering their previous 'pro Paxil' headlines have included:

Doctors describe Sara Carlin as troubled

Mother describes daughter's downward spiral

and

Erratic behaviour alarmed friends


People buy newspapers on the strength of headlines. There's an old saying, Never judge a book by its cover.

If I lived in Ontario, I certainly wouldn't be buying this particular rag. Their coverage of this Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family Inquest has been shameful. Come to think of it, if I were anywhere near the Coroner's Court I'd purposely sit in the gallery staring at lawyers who, it is plainly obvious, are defending Glaxo's Paxil.

Anyone want to fund a trip to prove my point?

I jest. Don't offer - I'd probably be ushered away in shackles because my contempt for those 'defence' lawyers [because that's what they are] would probably see me serve a custodial sentence for a trumped up charge of speaking my mind and confronting morality head on.

Glaxo's lawyers, the doctor's lawyers and the Coroner's Counsel, all highly paid individuals, have set their stall at this inquest from day one.

DEFEND PAXIL.

It's obvious - but not to the hackneyed reporting from Ontario's headline grabbing editor's at The Oakville Beaver.

Today's article from the Beaver, which reports on yesterday's events at the inquest, reports on Dr. Paul Links, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, deputy chief of psychiatry at St. Michael's Hospital, and past president of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.

Links claims he did not see Paxil as the most viable explanation for Sara's death.

Does this guy drive a DeLorean with a flux capacitor or is this just another opinion of an apparent expert in the field of Paxil suicides?

Links agreed Paxil could produce suicidal thoughts and behaviour, he said this was unlikely in Sara's case. He said Sara had been taking Paxil for more than a year and the risky period for suicide is in the first months.

Is that so?

Risk also occurs if Paxil is stopped suddenly, something both Sara's parents testify to when they told the court that they believe Sara missed her dose of Paxil for a couple of days.

Links should know what this experience could be like, he is after all president of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention!

The Oakville Beaver:

To his knowledge, Links said there was no dramatic period of restlessness, agitation or dramatic shifts in her mood that would show the drug was having a negative effect on her.

Amazing how these so called 'experts' can turn into Marty McFly overnight.

I would think that the parents of Sara Carlin would be in the better position to tell an inquest about the changes regarding Sara's restlessness, agitation and dramatic shifts in her mood, don't you?

I have not yet read one 'expert' witness statement from the Coroner's biased pharma shills that carries any credence, it's all supposition.

To counteract Links', the inquest heard from long time Carlin family friend Gillian Kerr.

Gillian had known the Carlin family for 26 years even serving as their live-in nanny at one point.

Oakville Beaver:

She developed a close relationship with Sara, similar to that of an aunt. Kerr said she supported Sara at a large number of the athletic events, as well as during music recitals and other important events in her life.

"Sara was amazing," said Kerr, choking back tears. "She had a great sense of humour, she was very loving. The whole entire family was very affectionate and that was Sara. She was just wonderful, she had a good heart, she was a very hard worker, not only at school, but around the house."

Kerr said, however, a different Sara emerged in the weeks following her introduction to Paxil.

The family had been getting ready for a family member's birthday party and Kerr had come to the Carlin family home from London around 2 p.m.

She went to check on Sara and found her in bed unwilling to move.

"I said, 'We need to get to your Aunt Christine's house in an hour. You better get up and shower.' and she snapped at me, which was a shock to me," said Kerr.

"She was very moody, didn't want to go to the family event. I asked what was going on with her, but she didn't answer me, just grumbled."

Sara did end up going to the party and here, too, Kerr noticed behaviour that she said was completely out of character for Sara.

Previously, Kerr said, Sara had always played with her aunt's young children and had been the centre of attention at these parties, but this time Sara just sat in a corner.

When the party ended at around 6:30 p.m., Kerr said, Sara returned home and went back to bed.

Kerr recalled another incident in July 2006 when she entered Sara's room and found a huge hole in the wall.

When she asked her about it, Sara said she had punched the hole in the wall one day when she was angry.

My time on Paxil also saw me punch a hole in my wall - I had gone cold turkey after trying to taper slowly from Paxil for 21 months - that's almost two years folks. I was in my forties - Sara was in her teens!

Also from the Oakville Beaver:

When Kerr asked Sara what had made her so angry, she said Sara was not able to provide a reason.

On another occasion, Kerr remembered Sara becoming frustrated while trying to load the dishwasher. Sara ended up throwing a bowl on the counter and slamming the dishwasher door shut when the bowl wouldn't fit.

Sara then left the room amid a flurry of profanities.

All of this was new behaviour for Sara, Kerr said.

Here's an extract from my book, The Evidence, However, Is Clear, The Seroxat Scandal.

It relates to an incident I had at my one bedroom flat. My kids [3] had come to visit me, along with my nephew.

Kids being kids, they were loud and boisterous, merely excited with the game they were playing. I had told all of them to keep the noise level down as I was having trouble dealing with it. I explained to them that any sudden loud noise was like a slap across the forehead to me. Of course, I didn't expect them to understand, who could? In hindsight, I should not have invited my children over to see me but they were missing me and enjoyed the company of their nephew [my sister's son].

As I recall they were playing a simulated football game, a near miss would cause them all to shout out, a goal scored would cause them all to cheer loudly. I had told all of them to keep the noise level down as I was having trouble dealing with it. 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO', as a shot went whizzing over the bar. 'YESSSSSSSSSSSS', as a penalty was awarded. I had told all of them to keep the noise level down as I was having trouble dealing with it. 'GOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL', as their team scored a goal. Why were they not listening to me?

I had told all of them to keep the noise level down as I was having trouble dealing with it.
I had told all of them to keep the noise level down as I was having trouble dealing with it.
I had told all of them to keep the noise level down as I was having trouble dealing with it.

Time and time again, I had told them.

I cracked.

I stood bolt upright from my computer chair, turned to my children and nephew who were celebrating a goal they had scored and shouted, “FUCKING GET OUT, ALL OF YOU , FUCKING GET OUT NOW!” I will never ever forget the look of fear on their faces as they looked at me in complete horror. They all looked terrified, almost as if they had seen a vision of Satan.

They protested and told me they would keep quiet, this just fuelled my anger. “GET OUT OF MY FLAT NOW BEFORE I PUNCH THE LIVING FUCK OUT OF YOU, YOU INCONSIDERATE CUNTS”.

My nephew, being the oldest, [and wisest] gathered my children and they all left in silence to his mother's house [my sister's].

What kind of monster had I become? Surely going cold turkey on a prescribed drug, given the okay by a regulator of medicine, would not cause such horrific side effects? What was going on inside me? Who was this person?

They left and I slumped to the floor, sobbing, my head buried in my hands, my body twitching, electric like zaps jolting through me as if I were being poked by a cattle prod. I rocked back and forth, mumbling to myself. An outsider would have seen me as insane and called for a straitjacket. I needed to get out, I felt as if I were the touch paper of a firework that had already been lit and was ready to 'show off' what it could do when flame met the gunpowder [Akathisia, see Chapter 3]. I needed to vacate this situation and I needed it so bad that I left my flat in just jeans and a t-shirt. It was around February and it was below zero outside. I didn't care.

I didn't think.

I couldn't think.

To recap from the Oakville Beaver:

Kerr remembered Sara becoming frustrated while trying to load the dishwasher. Sara ended up throwing a bowl on the counter and slamming the dishwasher door shut when the bowl wouldn't fit.

Sara then left the room amid a flurry of profanities.

One thing in common I shared with Sara - We both took Paxil.

Coincidence?

It's evident that this inquest is trying to shift the blame on other addictive substances that Sara took. Cocaine and alcohol.

Remember, according to GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturers of Paxil, their drug is not addictive.

You ever tried to give up an addiction, smoking maybe?

You find yourself being shitty to those around you?

Could Sara have been suffering withdrawal symptoms from Paxil here? It's certainly possible, isn't it?

I cannot time travel in a Delorean as Links can. To be honest, I don't need to because I have experienced both anger and frustration as a result of taking Paxil. No expert witness, GlaxoSmithKline spokesperson or highly paid lawyer can tell me that it was the 'illness' or relate it to any other substance - well, they can try - please do - I'll rip you a new hole!

End of the day, Sara Carlin was prescribed a drug called Paxil.

Her parents were not told she had been prescribed it.

On each increase of dosage Sara's personality changed.

Does it really take Einstein to do the math here?

Back to the inquest and GlaxoSmithKline's Lawyer, Teresa Walsh.

In a wordplay that can only be described as spin, the Carlin's lawyer, Gary Will, drew Links attention to Paxil manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline's product monograph for Paxil. The monograph lists a number of side-effects associated with taking Paxil, two of which include increased alcohol consumption and rapidly changing mood.

This from the Beaver:

On cross-examination GlaxoSmithKline lawyer Teresa Walsh said these side effects have only been reported in association with taking Paxil. She said there is no evidence Paxil causes them.

Am I reading this correctly?

Is Walsh saying that a common over the counter drug such as aspirin could be associated with increased alcohol consumption and rapidly changing mood?

Face it, it's a play on words. It's spin of the highest calibre. It's an admittance of guilt without actually admitting it.

This inquest has seen the Carlin family stand up for what they believe in. It's seen a family devastated by their daughter's death take on the second largest pharmaceutical company in the world, take on the medical profession who prescribed their daughter Paxil without warning her that it may cause her to kill herslef.

Now Walsh plays down the change Paxil can cause in an adolescent by claiming, "...these side effects have only been reported in association with taking Paxil."

This is GlaxoSmithKline at their finest. This is spin that Barrack Obama and David Cameron would pay a heavy sum for. This is Keanu Reeves character, Kevin Lomax, in the movie, The Devil's Advocate.

This is utterly shameful.

The rest of the article can be read online HERE

On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.

Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Nessun Dorma



RELATED POSTS:

Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know


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 Ontario, Canada

On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.

Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Nessun Dorma



RELATED POSTS:

Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know


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 Inquest - Coroner's Witness In U-Turn... And That Man Shaffer!

As things go, we are a day behind on the events at the Sara Carlin inquest in Ontario, Canada. Those interested can only rely on the reporting of staff at Ontario's popular newspaper, The Oakville Beaver. Today sees them reporting about proceedings that occurred yesterday [Wednesday 16th June]

Reading today's article I am baffled as to the authenticity of some of the expert witnesses used by those who think Paxil didn't cause Sara Carlin to kill herself.

Yesterday saw Corner's Counsel call yet another witness to the stand, another witness to offer an opinion as to whether or not Paxil had a part to play in Sara's demise.

It has to be said at this point, that I have been following this case very closely and thus far have not seen one witness who can be deemed as an 'expert' in these matters.

So, yesterday, Dr. Nathan Scharf took to the stand. Scharf was qualified by the Coroner's Counsel, Michael Blain, as an expert in the area of SSRi use in children and adolescents.

Reading the Oakville Beaver article it would appear that Scharf was either ill-prepared or just not really that bothered by the events that took place on May 6th, 2007.

Scharf was called by the Coroner's Counsel to offer opinion on the strength of his experience working at the Youthdale Treatment Centre in Toronto, a crisis centre where Scharf is director.

Interestingly, Scharf has received mixed reviews for his treatment of children with medication.

Rate MD's - is a website whereby patients can offer their opinions of doctor's they or family members have received treatment from. A quick search of Scharf is revealing.

This comment from 2009:

Dr. Scharf is dangerous! He brushes you off when you ask questions and prescribes medications to children that arent even safe in anyone under 18 years of age! Youthdale is also a terrible organization in itself; they have committed several violations of the Child and Family Services Act. I came across a site called Youthdale.com which shows these issues, and I encourage you to visit the site.

Youthdale.com seems to be a website that is against the use of drugging children and, it appears, has nothing to do with Scharf's directorship at the Youthdale Treatment Centre in Toronto.

Could this just be a disgruntled patient unhappy with Scharf?

There are more comments regarding Scharf on the Rate MD's website where he has received an average score of 6/10.

Quite the expert.

Back to the inquest and Scharf's initial opinion regarding Paxil causing Sara Carlin to kill herself.

This from the Oakville Beaver:

When asked by Blain [Corner's Counsel] to comment on Sara's case, Scharf initially said Paxil was probably not a major contributor to her death because she had been taking the Paxil since February of 2006 and most suicidal thoughts and adverse effects take place in the first few weeks if they are going to take place at all.

As Sara had been quite far along in her Paxil treatment, Scharf said it was more likely her suicide was a result of other things going on in her life.

You may recall that another of the Coroner's Counsel witnesses, Dr. David Juurlink, said pretty much the same thing. I have previously wrote about Juurlink here.

So, it would appear that both Coroner Counsel witnesses, Juurlink and Scharf were singing from the same hymn sheet - almost word for word!

On cross examination from the Carlin's lawyer, Gary Will, it became apparent that Scharf knew pretty much next to nothing about Sara Carlin's demise.

Oakville Beaver:

Carlin's lawyer Gary Will pointed out that Scharf had very little information on Sara's case. He had received only a page and a half summary from the Coroner's Office.

This summary included no medical records from Sara's doctors or statements from her parents about how they feel she changed when she began taking Paxil. Her parents have testified she changed from an academically and athletically focused young woman to an apathetic person who abused drugs and alcohol.

Will listed a number of incidents in which Sara's Paxil dose increase was followed shortly by some adverse behaviour on her part.

This included the Palm Springs incident, which occurred a few weeks after Sara began taking Paxil.

The Carlins have testified that Sara spent most of the time in bed with the blinds pulled down during a family trip to Palm Springs. They considered is very out of character for her.

When the Paxil dosage was moved from 10 mgs to 20 mgs, Will said Sara suddenly quite her part-time job at an optometrist's office.

It would appear that the Coroner's Counsel had not prepared their witness correctly.

For an 'expert' to take the stand, who has only been briefed with a one and a half page summary of the death of a teenage girl, is absurd.

I cannot think how the Coroner's counsel could be so lax, particularly as they have defended GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil since the very first day of this inquest, not only inside the Coroner's Court but on national TV too.

Coroner's Counsel, Michael Blain, appeared on TV during a short recess on day one of the inquest where he claimed that expert evidence to be given later in this case will show that Paxil was not related to Sara Carlin's suicide.

Yesterday, Scharf was told by the Carlin's lawyer that Sara's Paxil prescription was refilled and she may have taken as much as 120 mgs in a 36-hour period to make up the doses she missed. Scharf's one and a half page summary made no mention of this.

He was then asked if such a scenario could have played a role in her suicide, to which he replied, "Certainly, it may have played a role. I cannot say it did not play a role," said Scharf. "It was perhaps one factor among others."

Quite the U-Turn from his initial statement where he had said Paxil was probably not a major contributor to her death because she had been taking the Paxil since February of 2006 and most suicidal thoughts and adverse effects take place in the first few weeks if they are going to take place at all.

The jury at this inquest must be utterly bamboozled by it all.

Interesting bit of information regarding Dr. Nathan Scharf that you won't read in the Oakville Beaver.

In 2008 he gave a presentation at the Hospital for Sick Children. The “CRISIS INTERVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR”

Also in attendance that day was one David Shaffer, MD.

Remember him?

This from investigative journalist, Evelyn Pringle:

A report filed in litigation showing that GlaxoSmithKline manipulated the numbers on adverse events related to suicidality in clinical trials back in 1989, to make it appear that Paxil did not increase the risk of patients experiencing suicidal behavior when, in fact, trial subjects on Paxil were eight times more likely to attempt or commit suicide than patients taking placebos.

Quite a few of the top pushers are also under investigation by the Committee due to revelations that millions of dollars has changed hands between the SSRI makers and the academics who signed off on some of the most fraudulently reported research in the history of modern medicine. A full list of names is easy to compile by scanning the literature on SSRI studies conducted on children. The same names appear repeatedly.

In alphabetical order, the Fortune 500 team of pushers, at a minimum, includes Drs Joseph Biederman, David Brent, Jeffrey Bridge, Daniel Casey, David Dunner, Graham Emslie, Daniel Geller, Robert Gibbons, Frederick Goodwin, Martin Keller, Andrew Leon, John Mann, John March, Charles Nemeroff, John Rush, Neal Ryan, David Shaffer, and Karen Wagner.

Shaffer was the head and driving force behind the development of the computerized screening tool that TeenScreen employs, the "Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children" (also known as DISC). Following this he helped to devise a shorter computerized version that is easier to use in schools, the "Diagnostic Predictive Scales" (DPS), and a paper and pencil version of the screening tool, the "Columbia Health Screen" (CHS). [LINK]

Shaffer's industry connections:

•Consultant: Hoffman la Roche, Wyeth (expert trial witness)
•Consultant: GlaxoSmithKline (on the matter of paroxetine (Paxil) and adolescent suicide)
•Participated in a consensus panel for child and adolescent bipolar disorder funded by: Abbott, Brystol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, INC Research, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, and Solvay.

Strange company that the Coroner's Counsel in the Sara Carlin inquest keep isn't it?

And here was me thinking that this inquest was to give Sara Carlin a voice!

The Oakville Beaver's take on yesterday's events can be read HERE

More soon.

On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.

Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Nessun Dorma



RELATED POSTS:

Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know

Fid

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

Federal Aviation Administration Cites Paxil As Having "Significant Withdrawal Syndrome"

Image: gra-cv.com

Back in April I wrote to the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act. [FOI]

I was concerned because the FAA had, for some time, some time not allowed pilots on antidepressant medications to fly. However, a new proposal wished to now lift this ban... but only on 4 SSRi type medications - Fluoxetine [Prozac], Sertraline [Zoloft], Citalopram [Celexa], or Escitalopram [Lexapro] [BACK STORY]

The questions I posed to them in the FOI request were:

1. Request for minutes of meetings where the change in the policy was on the agenda. List of members present and a declaration of interests of each of the members.

2. Any information given to FAA from outside parties that relate to the FAA'S recent change in policy regarding pilots on antidepressant medication.

3. A list of SSRi medications that pilots are NOT permitted to use and reasons why you think these SSRi's still pose a threat to safety.

4. A list of anti-smoking cessation drugs that pilots are NOT permitted to use and reasons why you think these still pose a threat to safety.

5. Does the FAA's new policy extend to air traffic controllers, if not, why?

6. An official statement from your CEO that categorically states that the FAA envisage that there will never be any incidents in the future with pilots that can be traced back to any adverse drug reaction from Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro.

Yesterday morning, Fed Ex delivered a package, the contents of which were very eye opening indeed.

For now, I shall offer you the covering letter that accompanied the documents. Later I will offer the complete 58 pages as a download.

One of the things that struck me after browsing through the documents was the following images taken from a presentation by the FAA.





You will notice on both that it is mentioned that paroxetine [Seroxat/Paxil] is cited as having 'significant withdrawal syndrome'

Hardly surprising then, that the FAA have not included Paxil in their 'safe antidepressants' to take whilst operating an aircraft.

Staying on-topic, GlaxoSmithKline are heading for the High Court in London later this year to defend their drug Seroxat, known as Paxil in the US.

GlaxoSmithKline are defending claims that Seroxat has propensity to cause withdrawal reactions.

Anyway, here's the cover letter.

Mr. Bob Fiddaman,
Quinton
Birmingham
UK

Dear Mr. Fiddaman,

Re: Freedom of Iformation Act (FOIA) request 10-4122

This responds to your Freedom of Information Act email inquiry of April 6,2010 containing six requests concerning the FAA's recent change in policy regarding pilots being treated with certain select antidepressant medications. The FAA's policy regarding pilots with depression taking antidepressant medication may be found in the U.S. Federal Register Notice of April 5,2010 attached.

1. A records search was conducted at FAA Headquarters - Office of Aerospace Medicine. This office located a Memorandum report of a consultants meeting regarding the proposed policy. A copy of this Memorandum is attached. There are no other records respondent to your request.

2. A records search was conducted at FAA Headquarters - Office of Aerospace Medicine. This offrce located information received from the Aerospace Medical Association, the Airline Pilots Association Aeromedical Office, the International Airline Pilots Association, and the United States Army. Copies of these documents are attached. In developing the new policy, the FAA also utilized a variety of medical research literature available in the public domain. We used internet sites such as, but not limited to: The National Library of Medicine PubMed site and the FDA Medwatch.

3. A records search was conducted at FAA Headquarters - Office of Aerospace Medicine. There are no records responsive to this request. The four SSRI medications that will be considered for possible special issuance medical certifrcation are listed in the U.S. Federal Register Notice of April 5, 2010 attached.

4. A records search was conducted at FAA Headquarters - Office of Aerospace Medicine. There are no records responsive to this request. The only anti-smoking drug permitted for use while flying is nicotine in the form of gum or skin patches. All others are not allowed.

5. A records search was conducted at FAA Headquarters - Office of Aerospace Medicine. There are no records responsive to this request. The FAAs new policy does not presently apply to Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS) because the administrative details of the monitoring and follow-up of these employees are yet to be determined. The plan is that ATCSs will eventually be included in a program of this type.

6. This request does not apply under the Freedom of Information Act.

If you owe fees for the processing of this request, an invoice containing the amount due and payment instructions will be enclosed.

More coming soon.

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 - 'Death by Paxil' Inquest - The 'Expert'

Coroner's Counsel expert witness, Dr. David Juurlink
Image: sunnybrook.ca


The Oakville Beaver has another update on the Sara Carlin inquest - the column inches this time dedicated to an expert witness called by the Coroner's Counsel.

Yesterday, Dr. David Juurlink took the witness stand to offer his opinion on why Sara took her own life.

In a nutshell, he does not believe that Paxil caused Sara to kill herself, although he does believe SSRI's, Paxil included, can provoke suicidal thoughts and suicide.

From the Oakville Beaver:

One of the reasons he gave for this belief was Sara's Paxil history, which said Sara was prescribed Paxil in February of 2006, but did not kill herself until May of 2007.

Juurlink said this is not consistent with other SSRi suicides he has researched where the suicides and suicidal thoughts came within weeks of the patients being introduced to the drug, not more than a year later.

The Paxil patient information leaflet [PIL] also makes the same claim as Juurlink.

Juurlink went on to claim that he thought there were a number of other things going on in Sara's life that could have triggered her suicide, including school related stress, difficulties in relationships with boyfriends and her brother Brendan's tragic death on New Year's Eve 1999.

It appears to me that these witnesses for the defence are seriously missing the point. [I call them the 'defence' because all they seem to have done from day one of this inquest is defend Paxil]

Sara was prescribed Paxil. She wasn't told that it could cause her to kill herself. Her parents wasn't informed by Sara's doctor that he had prescribed her Paxil because of some ancient Canadian law that prohibits doctors divulging information about their patients.

When cross-examined by the Carlin's lawyer, Gary Will, Juurlink was asked about the effect increasing Sara's Paxil prescription may have had on her. It was pointed out to Juurlink that nearly every time Sara's medication was increased she would exhibit disturbing behavioural changes.

Juurlink said these incidents were probably brought on by depression, which was not adequately treated by the Paxil.

I find this very strange, particularly as Juurlink is the co-author of a study that found Paxil can block the life-saving benefits of the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen.

Okay, nothing to do with Sara's case but strangely Juurlink was interviewed sometime ago on CTV News Channel with regard to his particular study.

On being asked by the interviewer, "For those watching right now that might be taking Tamoxfen with this antidepressant [Paxil] - what should they do?"

Juurlink replied, "The first thing to do is not panic and certainly don't stop taking your paroxetine, your Paxil suddenly. There's a well described withdrawal syndrome...it's actually potentially dangerous consequences of stopping the drug..."

You can view Juurlink's performance HERE

"Dangerous consequences of stopping the drug"

This from the Oakville Beaver:

Gary Will also asked about the effects Sara might have experienced when, in the final days of her life, she lost her pills for a couple of days and may have taken several to make up for what she'd missed.

Juurlink said patients who suddenly stop taking Paxil might experience SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome, which, in extreme cases, can cause a person to feel as though they are receiving electric shocks all over their body.

However, he said there is no evidence Sara went through this.

At no point did Juurlink utter the words, "Dangerous consequences of stopping the drug", as he did when he was interviewed on CTV News Channel sometime ago.

Full article can be read on the Oakville Beaver website.

What you won't read in the article is Dr. Juurlink is or was an internist and Head of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. [LINK]

The Sunnybrook Foundation rely on donations - in 2008 GlaxoSmithKline donated $140,000. [LINK]

Juurlink is or was also a Medical Toxicologist at the Ontario Regional Poison Information Centre at the Hospital for Sick Children.

In 2008 GlaxoSmithKline donated $625,000 GlaxoSmithKline to Hospital for Sick Children. [LINK]

Juurlink maintains an active research program in the field of drug safety, supported by a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. [CIHR]

CIHR in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

Background

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK), with an investment totalling over $30M, intends to establish endowed Research Chairs at many of Canada's medical schools (or affiliated research institutes) in disciplines where specific universities are particularly strong, and where GSK and CIHR both have clear scientific interest. [LINK]


Another video of interest for the 'expert witnesses'. It's on for half an hour and well worth the watch - if anything, the experts should grant Sara a voice.

Please note that 'Seroxat' is the UK brand name for paroxetine - otherwise known as Paxil in Canada and the United States.




Watch Seroxat in News  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

RELATED POSTS:

Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know

Fid

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

Paxil Withdrawal - thousands of unseen court documents

Image: sitepoint.com

Much has been said about the Citizens Commission on Human Rights [CCHR], mainly from people who cannot defend the use of Paxil and other SSRi's. Their links to Scientology is normally the road pharmaceutical companies and their shills take when trying to discredit those that speak out against psychiatric medication.

I, myself, have been subjected to allegations that I am a Scientologist. Those that know me will know that these allegations [made by one obsessive individual] couldn't be further from the truth.

Having said that, I have been looking at the work of the CCHR with great interest over the past few weeks and it has occurred to me that they are very much banging the drum with regard to psychiatric medication.

I'd be more reluctant to accept what they had to say if they were an organisation such as the Catholic church - whose history is pretty shameful. I have nothing against Catholics, I was raised a Catholic. Fortunately, once reaching a certain age, I was able to make a choice of whether or not I wished to follow it into adulthood.

I chose not to.

The publishing of this next video, a new one from the CCHR, will no doubt send my obsessive critic into a state of apoplexy - to be honest, I really don't care any more. His latest 'point-scoring' with regard to the inquest of Sara Carlin has sickened me.

In this short video, Karen Barth Menzies of Baum Hedlund [a law firm] explains how the FDA sprung into action once reports started flooding in about Paxil withdrawal. Karen also explains how Paxil's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, have settled more than 3,000 lawsuits brought against them - most of which have gone unreported in the mainstream media.

A staggering 1.1 billion dollars has been paid out to members of the public that have took GlaxoSmithKline to court - they still claim Paxil is not defective.

I applaud the efforts of CCHR, same as I would if I saw a football team, whom I wasn't particularly enamoured with, score an excellent goal against a team that I follow.

A lawsuit involving Paxil [UK brand name, Seroxat] is set for the High Court in London later this year. I have wrote extensively about the witnesses GlaxoSmithKline intend to call, the majority of which seem to have a vested interest in playing Paxil withdrawal down. Back stories here, here, here and here.

As most of my readers know, I have been covering the inquest of Sara Carlin. Sara killed herself, I believe, as a result of many adverse reactions to Paxil. The inquest is currently underway in Ontario, Canada. Much of what has been written in the mainstream media will not do anything to protect the public from the danger of Paxil.

This video, is, in the main, for the non-believers out there, those that believe that Paxil is a safe and effective medication. It also is an effort to show that any law firm, who wishes to support GlaxoSmithKline in defence of Paxil, are pretty much doomed to failure.

It's abundantly clear that GlaxoSmithKline make out of court payments to

1. Admit no liability

and

2. Safeguard their profits.

Here's the short 2 minute video.




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 Inquest: Failure of the Oakville Medical Profession

The latest in the 'passing of the buck' regarding the death of Oakville teenage, Sara Carlin, should not come as any surprise for those of you that have ever had the misfortune of dealing with GlaxoSmithKline and the medical profession.

On Monday, Sara's family physician, Dr. Tom Stanton and Psychotherapist Dr. Mary Alexander took the stand to, basically, shirk any responsibility they may have had in Sara's behavioural change and subsequent death.

As far as I can ascertain, by reading the latest from the Oakville Beaver, both Stanton and Alexander accept no responsibility in, firstly prescribing a teenager a drug that could cause suicide and secondly, not particularly bothered with regard to Sara's apparent taste for alcohol consumption.

It's all well and good blaming the patient after the event but what were these two medical professionals thinking?

Firstly, and by Stanton's own admission, he never once warned Sara about the possible side effect of suicide when he first prescribed her Paxil. This from the Oakville Beaver:

When asked by the Coroner's Counsel Michael Blain, and later Carlin lawyer Gary Will, if he had told Sara that Paxil could produce suicidal thoughts in people under 18, Stanton said he told her how the drug worked and that she should contact him if it made her feel worse.

The possible increased risk of suicide was not mentioned.

"The person is in a pretty vulnerable state at that point and I find that if you say to the person, 'This could cause you to commit suicide,' it's really hard to engage the person with the medication," said Stanton.

"I find that a better way to say that is that sometimes it can make you feel worse and if there are any side-effects or anything that you notice is different, than you need to talk to me about those."

It's basically covering his own ass.

Stanton had previously prescribed Sara Paxil after he diagnosed her with suffering from both a panic disorder and depression. This diagnosis was based on a 30-minute visit to Stanton's surgery by 17 year old Sara Carlin.

When Stanton questioned Sara about the stress in her life, Stanton said that Sara had told him she had a heavy workload at school, she was having trouble with her boyfriend and there was a lot of tension at home.

So, your average teenager then?

Not according to Stanton, who then went ahead and prescribed Sara Paxil, a drug that had already been slammed with a warning regarding children and adolescents of Sara's age taking it.

According to Stanton, he prescribed Sara 10mgs of Paxil and a sedative, Ativan, to help Sara deal with panic attacks.

Neither Neil or Rhonda Carlin, Sara's parents, were informed by Stanton that he had given their daughter a drug known to cause suicide, a medical confidentiality law that becomes binding at the request of any patient over the age of 16 in Canada.

This from the Oakville Beaver:

A follow-up appointment with Sara in March 2006 indicated the medication appeared to be helping somewhat, said Stanton, with Sara experiencing less panic and sleeping more.

Since the medication appeared to be working, Stanton said he doubled the Paxil dose from 10 mgs to 20 mgs and prescribed Imovane to help her sleep.

So, Sara's medication seemed to be working according to Stanton - why increase the dosage then?

Once again, from the Oakville Beaver:

When asked if he'd consider more frequent, perhaps weekly monitoring, Stanton said he did not think it was necessary, because he was not hearing anything from Sara he didn't like.

April and June appointments were also positive, Stanton said, with Sara stating the Paxil was helping her and that she was happier, sleeping more, crying less and experienced less sadness.

All seemed good then? A drug that, by it's manufacturers own [late] admission, that could give rise to suicidal thoughts, was, in Stanton's eyes, working very well.

Sara was later seen by Stanton's colleague, Dr. Lynne Benjamin, who increased Sara's dose of Paxil from 20mg to 30mg.

Are we to assume here that the Paxil had worn off?

Why, did Lynne Benjamin increase Sara's dose of a potentially lethal drug.

A study, submitted to the FDA, the American medicines regulator, in 2008, showed that compared with placebo, the new-generation antidepressants do not produce clinically significant improvements in depression in patients who initially have moderate or even very severe depression, but show significant effects only in the most severely depressed patients.

Sadly, this came approx one year after Sara Carlin killed herself.

Once again, the Oakville Beaver:

At an appointment in October with Benjamin, Stanton testified Sara said school was terrible and she was going to quit.

She also reported sleeping poorly and increased panic when she was driving.

At this point, the Paxil dose was increased to 40 mgs per day.

So to recap:

Sara was prescribed 10mg of Paxil. By Stanton's own admission, it seemed to be working - what does he do? Increase the dosage.

Sara went to see Stanton in April and June - no increase.

In September, Sara is seen by Stanton's colleague, Dr. Lynne Benjamin. Benjamin increases Sara's dose from 20mg to 30mgs.

One month later, Sara's dosage is increased to a massive 40mg.


Now, for the record, I have never blamed doctor's or psychiatrists for prescribing Paxil. They, like the patient, prescribe it in trust - in other words - they believe what the manufacturer tells them, in this case, GlaxoSmithKline.

Let's look at the above increases for a second.

The February introduction to Paxil was shortly followed by Sara being barely able to get out of bed during a family Palm Springs trip.

The March increase was followed by Sara quitting her job at an optometrist’s office for no real reason. Drug and alcohol abuse also became a problem during this period.

The September increase was followed by Sara writing a letter very close to a suicide note, that was not found until after her death.

The October increase was followed by Sara visiting the London emergency room after mixing sleeping pills, cocaine and alcohol.

Coincidence?

What I find staggering is the failure here of the medical profession or may be they were just ignorant of the facts about medicating adolescents with GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil.

Psychotherapist Dr. Mary Alexander also gave evidence on Monday, once again there was no admission that she had any part to play in Sara's death.

This from the Oakville Beaver:

Alexander was the psychotherapist Stanton referred Sara to in March 2006 with the actual appointment taking place in July of 2006.

During that appointment, Alexander said Sara told her that she had been fine until Grade 6 when her older brother Brendan died.

Sara said she had bottled up feelings of heartbreak, anger and sadness, but in the last two years had begun to experience anxiety and sadness, which steadily began to increase.

Alexander said this got so bad Sara began to avoid going out and doing things because she was afraid of having panic attacks.

Alexander claimed that she did discuss drinking with Sara. She said she was concerned as Sara told her she had been drinking a 26-ounce bottle of alcohol every weekend with friends for the last two years.

Alexander said she warned Sara about drinking while taking Paxil because alcohol is a depressant and can make depression worse to the point where it could cause her to think about harming herself.

Sara stopped coming to see Alexander after the first session.

Alexander, at no point, thought it wise to contact Sara's doctor regarding Sara's drinking.

She added: Stanton was not contacted about this because at that time Sara did not appear suicidal.

I find it hard to believe that a teenager as young as Sara could consume such a large amount of alcohol every weekend for two years. If an adult consumed that much over a two year period, I'd still find it hard to believe.

If Alexander was telling the truth regarding Sara's drinking habit then why did this not raise alarm bells? If, according to Alexander, drinking while taking Paxil can make depression worse to the point where it could cause her to think about harming herself, then why on earth did she not contact Sara's doctor - she must have been concerned?

This latest evidence clearly highlights the need for change the way Paxil is prescribed to children not only in Canada but other countries too.

The jury at this inquest have digested a series of failures - these failures, have been masked by lawyers claiming Sara Carlin was some sort of juvenile delinquent hooked on alcohol and recreational drugs.

In truth, Sara Carlin, was your run of the mill teenager. Okay, she had had to deal with the death of her brother, she had done so for 7 years, without the need for Paxil. She was faced with attending attending Western University and was apparently having panic attacks and feeling more anxiety. A normal reaction?

I'm left wondering whether or not Alexander, Stanton and Benjamin slept on Sunday night, the eve of their evidence or whether they tossed and turned because they felt anxious and slightly panicky about standing up in a room full of strangers.

They failed Sara Carlin in life - and now, it would appear, they are failing her in death too.

That's my take on the latest article that has appeared in the Oakville Beaver.

More coming soon.

I have no trouble making difficult decisions. I do not agonize too much just ask around. I sleep well at night.
Jean-Pierre Garnier
Chief Executive Officer, GlaxoSmithKline
4/5/2004

On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.

Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Nessun Dorma



RELATED POSTS:

Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know


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 Inquest - Latest

Image: Oakville Beaver

The Oakville Beaver, a newspaper that serves the residents of Oakville, Ontario, is today reporting on the Sara Carlin inquest. Today's article, I feel, is more balanced that the previous articles it has ran during this inquest, and it clearly highlights that not one single person wants to take responsibility for Sara Carlin's death.

As far as I can see, and trust me I have been following this inquest very carefully, the parties involved in the defence of GlaxoSmithKline's drug, Paxil, are involved in a game of passing the buck. Make no bones about it, it's a defence.

Sara Carlin was prescribed a drug called Paxil. It was a drug that was known to cause suicide in Sara's age group yet the practice of off-label prescribing is as rife in Canada as it is in the UK and United States.

So here we have two grieving parents in Neil and Rhonda Carlin. They have taken on the might of the medical profession in Ontario. For their sins they have been subjected to inconsiderate, callous lawyers and a coroner's court that seems hell bent on proving that Paxil did not cause Sara to have a complete personality change that would ultimately end in death.

Today's Oakville Beaver runs with the headline and question, 'Should parents have been told daughter was prescribed anti-depressant?'

This, it seems, is a question of ethics.

We are not talking about a morning after pill here, nor are we talking about a birth control pill. We are talking about a drug that, by it's manufacturers own [late] admission, can cause children and adolescents to kill themselves.

The answer to the question is a no-brainer for me.

To put this in simple terms:

There is a creek owned by a local ranger called Jack. Kid's started to swim in this creek. All seemed well until one day a boy struggled with an undercurrent and drowned.

Jack saw this. He did nothing.

Some months later another child drowned, then another, and another. It continued until one day a witness saw that Jack was not reporting these deaths, he was doing nothing to safeguard the children swimming in his creek.

Evidence emerged that Jack had kept quiet about the danger of his creek and the local authority slapped him with a heavy fine and told him to put warning signs around the creek.

Nobody goes swimming in his creek anymore. Worried parents have told their children that the creek is dangerous. Jack argues that it is only dangerous for those who cannot swim properly.

Despite the warnings around the creek, despite the dangerous undercurrent, despite the deaths, Jack is still allowed to sell tickets to children at $5 so they can swim in his creek.

He cites that the benefits of swimming far outweigh the risks. He believes that swimming is great form of exercise and has medical evidence to prove it. Jack draws a graph which shows that over 5,000 children have swam in his creek and only 4 have died.

Despite Jack lowering the price of a swim to $3, nobody wants to go swimming in his creek any more.

Sadly, Sara Carlin was prescribed a drug that resembled Jack's creek. When Sara got caught in Paxil's undercurrent she had nowhere to swim. She fought hard, she battled hard and did everything possible to free herself from the grip of the 'undercurrent'.

Paxil, like Jack's creek, took a hold of her, it wouldn't let her go.

The Oakville Beaver cites that during cross examination, GlaxoSmithKline lawyer Teresa Walsh pointed out that Rhonda [Sara's mother] was not in the treatment room when Sara went to see the family doctor about Paxil and therefore has no idea what the doctor told her about the side-effects.

Glaxo's lawyer, Teresa Walsh, was not in the same room of the Paxil paediatric studies [329] either, a study that would have told her that warnings should have been put on the packets of Paxil long before Sara Carlin was prescribed them.

Walsh, may also like to answer my question.

Why, if Paxil has such bad side effects in children and adolescents, is the company that you represent, GlaxoSmithKline, currently running a Paxil Post Marketing Paediatric Study in Depression (Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Study) in Japan? This study has recruited children between the ages of 7 and 17 years - a study loaded with children who they think will do well.

The company you are representing, Ms Walsh, are running a study on children who fall into the very same age category as Sara Carlin.

The lawyers at the inquest will do everything in their power to shift the finger of blame away from Paxil. They will paint a picture of Sara to put doubt in the minds of the jury.

If the jury cannot see through this then I fear that the practice of off-label prescribing to children and teenagers of a drug known to cause suicide will continue without question.

There will be another victim - another swimmer who struggles.

When asked what recommendations she would like to see come out of the inquest, Sara's mother, Rhonda, said she would like to see changes to the way Paxil is prescribed with the patient’s family engaged and all parties warned about the side-effects.

It is such a tragedy that it would take the death of such a beautiful young girl to put such a recommendation in place. Glaxo and Health Canada should have done this years ago - they had a duty to put the warning signs around the creek.

Sara Carlin was prescribed Paxil off-label because it was thought that the benefits outweighed the risk [suicide]

An age old question that has never really been answered is, what exactly IS the benefits of taking Paxil?

Jack the creek owner has gone out of business now.

Glaxo, it appears, want to re-open a new creek in Japan.

On May 6, 2007, Sara Carlin, a beautiful 18-year-old girl with everything to live for, grabbed a piece of electrical wiring, fashioned a crude noose and hanged herself in the basement of her parents house while under the influence of the antidepressant drug Paxil (Seroxat in the UK). Paxil/Seroxat is an antidepressant documented by international drug regulatory agencies as causing worsening depression and suicide particularly in children and young adults.

Please help inform others of the risks of these drugs. Forward this video to everyone you know.

RIP Sara Alison Carlin

Nessun Dorma



RELATED POSTS:

Sara Carlin Inquest – Latest

Sara Carlin Inquest – Failure of Oakville Medical Profession

Sara Carlin – ‘Death by Paxil’ Inquest – The ‘Expert’

Sara Carlin Inquest – Coroner’s Witness In U-Turn… And That Man Shaffer!

SARA CARLIN Ontario, Canada

Coroner’s Inquest – Glaxo & Friends Vs The Carlin Family

Sara Carlin Inquest – Local MP Slams GlaxoSmithKline

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST VIDEO FOOTAGE

SARA CARLIN PAXIL INQUEST GLOBAL TV NEWS

SARA CARLIN INQUEST - What The Jury Should Know

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'THE EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, IS CLEAR...THE SEROXAT SCANDAL' By Bob Fiddaman
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GlaxoSmithKline's Filipino Dreams

'Dream Builders' promotional poster.

Oh the irony of it all.

It would appear that GlaxoSmithKline are saying 'NO' to crumpled dreams by supporting a group of mothers aiming to give the best preventive health care for every Filipino child.

The blurb from the promotional campaign reads:

Parents often ponder on the future of their children, perhaps while watching as they sleep, as they tie their first shoes, or simply as they look in their eyes. Ensuring a bright future for their children is what gave birth to The Dream Builders—a group of mothers who aims to give the best preventive health care for every Filipino. Together with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the Dream Builders strives to fight the primary cause of death among Filipino children - Pneumococcal Diseases (PDs). Launching their campaign No to Crumpled Dreams they will be taking steps in spreading importance of prevention rather than treatment.

“The launch of our advocacy No to Crumpled Dreams is our way of celebrating with the World Meningitis Day held every year on April 25,” shares Dr. Jing R. Pagcatipunan, Medical Affairs Manager for Vaccines of GSK. “These diseases are very common in children less than 2 years of age and may impair a child’s growth and development. We want to help them out by means of promoting prevention.”

Ironic isn't it, considering the tainted history of GlaxoSmithKline when it comes to protecting children.

One only needs to look at the Paxil study in children - the data that Glaxo kept from, not only the regulators of medicines around the world, but doctor's and patients too. [Paxil 329]

Or one could look at the recent birth defects trial in which GlaxoSmithKline's Paxil was found by a majority of 10 -2 to be the cause for a child being born with serious heart defects. A jury found that 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. [Court Transcripts]

Even more peculiar would be the current Paxil trials in children underway in Japan. Where Glaxo have recruited children from the ages of 7 to 17 to try to prove that it is safe an effective for children of this age group. I have previously wrote to GlaxoSmithKline regarding this study - they have not replied.

More irony from The Observer, a British newspaper, in 2004 where Glaxo was accused of using orphans and babies as lab rats.

According to documents obtained by The Observer, Glaxo has sponsored at least four medical trials since 1995 using Hispanic and black children at Incarnation. The documents give details of all clinical trials in the US and reveal the experiments sponsored by Glaxo were designed to test the 'safety and tolerance' of Aids medications, some of which have potentially dangerous side effects. Glaxo manufactures a number of drugs designed to treat HIV, including AZT.

And now they are backing the "No to Crumpled Dreams" campaign. The campaign is also supported by 5 famous Filipino painters, namely, Jao Mapa, Araceli Limcaco-Dans, Evangeline Pascual, Maria Isabel Lopez and Benjamin Cabrera.

"We want to help them out by means of promoting prevention.” - Dr. Jing R. Pagcatipunan, Medical Affairs Manager for Vaccines of GSK.

I'm guessing that GSK may just have that 'prevention', right?

Just like they had a 'prevention' for depressed children!




See also - Cervarix Blogspot - Astroturfing?

and

FDA asks Glaxo vaccine data


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