Viagra

Attorneys Serving People Nationwide Injured by Dangerous Drugs

Viagra was approved to treat erectile dysfunction in 1998, and it became a popular prescription medication. Viagra was manufactured by Pfizer and carries numerous warnings about side effects, such as headaches, muscle aches, blurred vision, painful long-lasting erections, fainting, burning, and itching. As our Viagra lawyers are aware, more recently, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Internal Medicine reported that researchers have discovered that men who use Viagra are 84% more likely to develop a deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma, over a 10-year period. The medication may affect the same genetic pathway that permits skin cancer to invade a person's body. More detailed work needs to be done to further establish the risks. If you have been harmed by your use of Viagra or another dangerous drug, you should consult a product liability lawyer at Moll Law Group. We have represented consumers nationwide in seeking compensation for the harm that they have suffered.

Demonstrating Accountability for Harm Resulting from Viagra Use

Product liability lawsuits may be brought against a manufacturer or another entity in the chain of distribution when a product has a dangerous defect that causes harm to a consumer. In order for someone in the chain of distribution to be held responsible, the product must have been sold in the marketplace, but anybody who foreseeably could be injured by a defective product can theoretically recover damages for injuries. However, in order for strict liability rules to apply, the sale of the pharmaceutical must have been in the regular course of a supplier's business.

In all product liability cases, the plaintiff needs to prove that a product was unreasonably dangerous. There are three types of defects that may give rise to liability: manufacturing defects, design defects, and marketing defects. Many dangerous pharmaceutical cases involve marketing defects. That is, the drugs came to consumers with inadequate warnings, labels, or instructions.

Most of the lawsuits filed against Pfizer in connection with the risk of melanoma when using Viagra allege that Pfizer knew or should have known about the increased risk of melanoma but withheld this information from the public. As a result, doctors and consumers were not able to catch signs of skin cancer before it progressed to more serious stages. Melanoma is often curable if it is caught early, but once it has spread past the skin and lymph nodes, it is hard to treat and may cause death. It causes about 8,650 deaths in the U.S. each year. Theories of recovery used by Viagra lawyers include failure to warn, breach of warranty, negligence, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation, and defective design.

Viagra is not a drug that treats a condition that is dangerous to men's health. Erectile dysfunction may affect men's lives, but it does not have adverse health effects or cause death. Most men would choose not to use an erectile dysfunction drug, given the very high risk of melanoma that has been found in connection with the drug so far, or they and their doctors would have been checking for signs of cancer earlier.

In most states, a drug manufacturer is required to warn doctors rather than provide direct warnings to consumers under the learned intermediary doctrine. Doctors are considered to be in a better position to assess a patient's suitability for a particular drug and to give warnings than manufacturers are.

Explore Your Options with a Knowledgeable Viagra Attorney

If you were diagnosed with melanoma or a loved one died of melanoma after using Viagra for an extended period, our product liability attorneys are available to guide you in pursuing compensation for your injuries. Moll Law Group represent injured consumers in states around the nation, such as California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Call us at 312-462-1700 or use our online form to set up a free consultation with a Viagra attorney.