Go to navigation Go to content

Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton

All We Do is Injury Law

Toll-Free: 1-800-752-0042
Phone: 1-757-460-7776

PHONE: 757-460-7776
TOLL FREE: 800-752-0042

Get help Now!

Interested in working with us? Call us on 1-757-460-7776 or fill out this quick form and we will contact you within 24 hours!

 

Practice Areas



Virginia (VA) Dangerous Drug Injury Lawyers
Offices in VA Beach, Hampton & Elizabeth City, NC  


Blog Category:

Dangerous Drugs & Devices/Product Recalls

1/18/2010
Emily Mapp Brannon
Comments (0)

Hormone Replacement Therapy Lawsuit Revived for Pennsylvania Woman Who Developed Breast Cancer

A $1.5 million judgment for the husband of a Pennsylvania (PA) woman who developed breast cancer after taking the hormone replacement therapy drug Prempro has been revived despite an earlier court ruling that the plaintiff's lawsuit was filed past a state statute of limitation on defective and dangerous product claims. The drugmaker originally ordered to pay the judgment, Pharmacia & Upjohn, which is now wholly owned by Pfizer, will continue to try to get the judgment dismissed. Nonetheless, the revival of the case is a victory for all women who suffered permanent, and sometimes fatal, health problems due to long-term hormone replacement therapy.

Hormone-replacement therapy, or HRT, treatments are, essentially, birth control pills. Like most hormonal birth control pills, HRT tablets and capsules contain a mix of natural or synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone. The two hormonal therapies, therefore, also have many of the same potential side effects, including increased risks for breast cancer, heart attacks and strokes.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, doctors regularly prescribed products such as Prempro for women as soon as they began menopause. In the short term, HRT treatments reduce the hot flashes, mood swings and other symptoms of menopause. HRT can also strengthen women's bones, preventing the onset and slowing the progress of osteoporosis.

When taken for more than a few months, however, HRT can significantly raise a woman's cholesterol, spur the formation of blood clots and foster the growth of estrogen-sensitive tumors in the breast. These risks became widely recognized in July 2004; the woman at the center of the Pennsylvania case developed cancer in 2002 and had not been adequately warned about Prempro's potential to cause breast cancer.

I noted above that the revival of the Pennsylvania case is a victory for all women harmed by HRT. This is because the revival makes it possible for those women to hold drugmakers accountable for causing injuries and deaths. While drugmakers cannot always know all the risks their medications pose, they must always be held responsible when one of their products is proven unsafe. Avoiding that responsibility by invoking short statutes of limitation should not be allowed, and I am glad it was not allowed in this instance.

EJL

Labels: birth control pills blood clots breast cancer dangerous drug defective products Emily Mapp Brannon failure to warn heart attack hormone replacement therapy HRT injury Attorney medications Pennsylvania side effects stroke women


About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases fo victims of dangerous drugs and prescription drug errors. Check out our dangerous drug information page to learn more about side effects and recalls. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth and Suffolk if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Our firm has been recognized as one of the best injury law firms in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report since 2010. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and have been recognized as the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis were also named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of practicing lawyers are chosen to receive this honor.

In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.

 Best Virginia Injury LawyersVirginia Injury LawyerVirginia Super Lawyers





Virginia Beach, VA Personal Injury Attorneys
Virginia (VA) Personal Injury Lawyers
Specializing in Virginia Wrongful Death & Injury Law 


There are no comments.

Post a comment

Post a Comment to "Hormone Replacement Therapy Lawsuit Revived for Pennsylvania Woman Who Developed Breast Cancer"

To reply to this message, enter your reply in the box labeled "Message", hit "Post Message."

Name:*

Email:* (will not be published)

Website:

Message:

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.

For security purposes, please enter the graphic text in the box below: [hit F5 if you can not read the text]