Parents Sue Tylenol Makers After Baby's Death
The parents of 2-year-old River Moore are suing Johnson & Johnson, makers of Children’s Tylenol, for causing their son’s death.
In July 2010, Daniel and Katy Moore noticed River was running a slight fever and gave him the recommended dose of Children’s Tylenol. He began spitting up blood half an hour after receiving the medicine and was immediately taken to the hospital, where he died the next day.
After performing multiple tests, doctors determined that River had died of liver failure. Family lawyer Joseph Messa told the Associated Press, “His liver enzymes were three times the normal level.” River’s level of enzymes could only have come from taking the Tylenol, he noted.
The parents are now suing Johnson & Johnson for “willful and reckless conduct, which needlessly caused the death of (the boy) simply to preserve the continuation of their billion-dollar revenue streams of pediatric medicines.”
Johnson & Johnson acknowledge that the Tylenol that River ingested came from a lot that was recalled. “Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles.”
Moore’s suit alleges that the recall was not made clear enough and “the general public, ignorant of the dangers” continued buying and giving children the tainted product. “This clandestine phantom/stealth recall was done without notification to the customers or the retailers to avoid the shame the financial impact and regulatory ramifications of a formal recall.”
Johnson & Johnson has responded to the Moore's allegations with the following statement: “We are deeply concerned about all matters related to our medicines and we remain committed to providing safe and effective pediatric medicines.”
