Drug Recall Lawyer Blog
Lt. Daniel Kaffee, that crazy kid, was on to something here. You can apply Kaffee’s logic to Chantix. Chantix is always on the FDA adverse event reports leaderboard, both in terms of breadth and quantity. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. Not always. But usually.
There is certainly enough of a connection between the smoke in Chantix suicide cases. If someone takes Chantix and kills themselves, it will not be difficult to explain to a jury the relationship. It is not a leap to say that if someone has been going through life without killing themselves (obviously), takes Chantix, and then kills themselves, it will be more likely than not that Chantix was a contributing cause. Not definitively connected beyond all reasonable doubt – suicide is too complex of an event for that – but certainly more likely than not to be a contributor.
After suicide, the claims get more difficult. I really think Chantix increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Admittedly, I don’t base this theory on my digging through the data. It is more of that smoke and fire metaphor: adverse event reports, plus the number of leads our law firm gets, plus the fact that Chantix is mad science messing with the brain without understanding all the effects… I add that up to general causation.
Translating that “know” into being able to prove the case with experts is a different story. Adding to that problem with diabetes and heart disease cases is the idea of specific causation. The argument against Chantix is not that it is giving 25-year-old marathon running and health food addicts diabetes and heart disease in massive numbers. Instead, it is pushing people at risk over the edge. That is a much thinner slice and much harder to prove.
Our attorneys are investigating potential lawsuits for suicides on Chantix. Unfortunately, because I think there may be viable claims, we are no longer looking at Chantix heart disease or diabetes cases. If you or a loved one on Chantix has experienced an injury because of these symptoms or events, call 1-800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.