On Sept. 30, 2004 Merck
and Co. pulled their arthritis painkiller, Vioxx of the market. They were a
little too late, though. The damage was done, and many have reported tragic
side effects, and others have lost their lives due to “sudden” heart attacks.
Did Vioxx kill Robert Ernst?
Case in point, Robert Ernst. Robert was taking Vioxx for pain in his hands,
when after 8 months of Vioxx use; he suffered a fatal heart attack. It is
interesting to note that Robert Ernst was apparently in great shape before
taking Vioxx. He worked as a produce manager for Wal-Mart, and even at the age
of 59, was actively participating in marathons and aerobics.
His heart attack was so sudden, that his heart showed no signs of damage-
that at least points to the fact that he had not suffered a heart condition
before taking Vioxx. With his wife and children convinced that Vioxx was
responsible for the heart attack (studies show that if Vioxx is taken for a
long period of time it will increase the chance of heart attack and stroke by
fifty percent), his wife, Carol Ernst is fighting the pharmaceutical giants in
what is the first lawsuit against Merck and Co.
Vioxx and Future Cases
This case has a lot pending on it. Considering the fact that Robert passed
away in 2001, and the drug hadn’t been recalled until 2004, which leaves a lot
of people and family members who may follow in Carol’s footsteps. There are
already more than 4,000 cases waiting to have their turn at bat against Merck
and Co. If the Ernst family is victorious, we can expect to see more cases come
to surface.
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External Links:
Fortune - Article about this case from Fortune.com