The US Supreme Court Wednesday ruled an amputee can sue the pharmaceutical company Wyeth for allegedly giving inadequate warning of serious side effects from a drug.
The unexpected 6-3 decision opens the door to thousands of individual lawsuits against drug companies for damages resulting from side effects from the drugs they produce.
The court found that Diana Levine, whose right forearm was amputated after she received an intravenous injection of an anti-nausea drug, could sue its manufacturer under the laws of the state of Vermont even though it had been approved by the Federal Drug Administration.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
