Sisters file lawsuits, alleging drug caused breast cancer

The pharmaceutical company Eli Lily and Co. has found itself in the midst of several lawsuits regarding one of its drugs – Diethylstilbestrol (DES) – which allegedly causes breast cancer, a number of reproductive problems and even a rare vaginal cancer, according to the online publication Bliss Tree.

The drug was initially given to pregnant women in order to reduce their chances of having a miscarriage or complications during childbirth, but was taken off the market in the 1970s due to its link to a rare type of cancer. Four sisters, Donna, Michele, Andrea and Francine Melnick, have all filed lawsuits against the company, accusing them of developing a drug that causes breast cancer.

In the case of each of these four women, their mother allegedly used DES while pregnant. However, she didn't use it while pregnant with a fifth child – Mary Ann – the only one not to develop breast cancer.

On the defense side, there may be little evidence to definitively prove that this drug caused the cancer afflicting the sisters today. With both their mother and her primary care doctor deceased, there is not much proof of these allegations, especially since no medical records have been kept to indicate the consumption of this prescribed pill.

Pharmaceutical companies that have created defective generic drugs may have serious legal consequences to deal with in the future, as the U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing arguments in 2013 on whether these type of suits can proceed in state court, according to JD Supra.

Arizona-based drug manufacturers must abide by consumer protection laws and ensure that all of their products are safe before going to market. If a problem does arise, contacting business attorneys from Phoenix law offices may prove beneficial.

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