On July 15, 2010, Stewart Dolin died after stepping in front of a train. Stewart had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and was prescribed paroxetine; GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Paxil – a brand name version of paroxetine – did not warn their “doctor of the drug’s increased risk of suicidal behavior, leading to his death.”
Stewart was a successful, 57 year old corporate attorney and partner with the Reed Smith law firm. After the verdict announced the results, Wendy Dolin, Stewart’s wife, told press, “This for me has not just been about the money. This has always been about awareness to a health issue, and the public has to be aware of this.” GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plans to appeal after what they believe was a disappointing verdict.
The lawsuit alleges negligence and wrongful death against the generic drug manufacturer and the distributors, however the U.S. District Courts ruled that the distributors are to be released because they never had control of what was printed on the label. Wendy “now advocates for patient safety and aims to raise awareness about akathisia, a state of restlessness or anxiety that sometimes occurs as a side effect of certain antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs.” Dolin’s attorneys reported that they were pleased to present their findings to the courts and to reveal their information to the public.
Wendy has created a “nonprofit organization, the Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation, in memory of Stewart Dolin.” The Dolin family stood together in a time of distress and believe that “Sterwart would be very proud of [them]… and how [they have] all stood together and made a difference, that we didn’t allow this injustice.”
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