Fwd: Parents Sue Harvard Over Son's Suicide_Boston Globe

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ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION A Catalyst for Public Debate: Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, andAccountability http://www.ahrp.org FYIHarvard University Health Services and its reliance on toxic, potentiallylethal pharmacological interventions may finally come under judicialscrutiny.The parents of 19 year old, John Edwards have filed a lawsuit chargingHarvard College and the doctor responsible for supervising the nursepractitioner who prescribed multiple psychotropic drugs with causing thewrongful death of their son.John Edwards was studying to become a doctor at Harvard College. After beingprescribed a potentially lethal combination of psychoactive drugs by anurse-practitioner at the school, he committed suicide in a bathroom atHarvard Medical School. Each of the drugs prescribed for John Edwards, carries black box warnings: The labels of each of the two antidepressants prescribed, Prozac andWellbutrin, warn about a twofold increased risk of suicide for those takingone of these drugs--the risk of taking both of these drugs in combinationhas not been tested for safety."Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs - Antidepressants increased the riskcompared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) inchildren, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of majordepressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders."See Prozac label:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/018936s089lbl.pdfSee Wellbutrin label:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/018644s039s040.pdfThe label of the acne drug, Accutane, carries black box warnings about birthdefects and extensive, prominent (bold) warnings about serious psychiatricadverse effects: "Accutane may cause depression, psychosis and, rarely, suicidal ideation,suicide attempts, suicide, and aggressive and/or violent behaviors."see p. 6 of label:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2008/018662s059lbl.pdfThe amphetamine, Adderral, which was also prescribed by thenurse-practitioner carries black box warnings about cardiac arrest.see:http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2007/011522s040lbl.pdfThe parents' attorney stated: "We're alleging that the supervising physicianin this case did not do her job, which was to supervise the nurse who didn'thave medical training that a physician has. She was writing prescriptionsfor powerful drugs that were inappropriate in this combination and areassociated with an increase of suicide.''Contact: Vera Hassner Sharavveracare212-595-8974http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/12/04/kin_sue_harvard_over_sons_suicideBOSTON GLOBEKin sue Harvard over son's suicideAllege negligence in health services' drug prescriptionBy Shelley Murphy, Globe Staff | December 4, 2009Harvard sophomore John Edwards was studying to become a doctor and trainingfor the Boston Marathon in June 2007 when he sought help at the university'sHealth Services because he could not study for as many hours as some of hisfriends.A nurse practitioner prescribed a drug to treat attention deficithyperactivity disorder, a condition the overachieving Edwards had never beendiagnosed with. Later, she prescribed two powerful antidepressants, Prozacand Wellbutrin, when he began complaining of anxiety, depression, and otherside effects. Meanwhile, he was taking a fourth drug for acne, Accutane,that has been linked to suicidal thoughts."The Wellbutrin is having the effect that we were seeking . . . butunfortunately I feel like it has canceled out the anxiety-reducing effectsof the fluoxetine [Prozac], as recently I've been pretty nervous,'' Edwardswrote in a Nov. 27, 2007, e-mail to the nurse practitioner, Marianne Cannon."Let me know if I should schedule to come in and meet with you soon, or if Ishould change the med plan.''Cannon replied that she was concerned and told Edwards to schedule anappointment with her. Two days later, Edwards, 19, of Wellesley committedsuicide in a bathroom at Harvard Medical School by suffocating himself witha plastic bag.His father, John B. Edwards II of Wellesley, filed a suit Wednesday inMiddlesex Superior Court alleging gross negligence by Cannon; Dr. GeorgiaEde, who was the doctor who supervised her; and Harvard College, for causinghis son's wrongful deathHarvard released a statement yesterday, saying, "We understand how difficultit must be for John Edwards' family to cope with such a tragic loss, but weare confident that the care he received at Harvard University HealthServices was thorough and appropriate and he was monitored closely by itsphysicians and allied health specialists.''Lisa G. Arrowood, a Boston attorney who represents Edwards, said, "We'realleging that the supervising physician in this case did not do her job,which was to supervise the nurse who didn't have medical training that aphysician has. She was writing prescriptions for powerful drugs that wereinappropriate in this combination and are associated with an increase ofsuicide.''The US Food and Drug Administration has warned that anyone taking Accutane,Prozac, or Wellbutrin should be monitored closely for suicidal thoughts."If a college such as Harvard cannot properly care for somebody like Johnny,I think it's very concerning who can,'' Edwards's father said. "They areleaders in medicine and psychiatry, and it's just astounding that at aschool such as Harvard that something like this could happen.''Edwards was class president and valedictorian of Wellesley High School classof 2006 and played on the school's championship tennis team. His father saidhe was an A student at Harvard and was conducting stem cell research atHarvard Medical School.He said he "thought it was bizarre'' when his son told him he had beenprescribed medication for attention deficit disorder, because "he never hadan attention issue.''The suit accuses Cannon of prescribing Adderall, an amphetamine, whichcaused Edwards to have chest pains and anxiety, then several months laterprescribing Prozac and then Wellbutrin, even though Edwards told her he hadtaken Prozac when he was younger and experienced "out-of-control feelings.''Edwards said his son was upset by a break-up with a girlfriend two monthsearlier, but there was no indication he contemplated taking his own life. Hewas training for the marathon and had created a Harvard College MarathonChallenge Web page, with a goal of raising $2,000 for two charities. "In sixmonths, I hope to cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon,'' Edwardswrote.His father said he last saw him when he dropped him off at his dorm two daysafter Thanksgiving. "He seemed to be in a good mood,'' Edwards said. "I gavehim a kiss on the head and hugged him. He hugged me. I told him I loved himand left. He seemed to be fine.''Edwards said his son, a guitarist, was planning to perform "High and Dry''by Radiohead with a friend at a talent show the night after his death. Theshow was canceled because of the suicide, then held three months later. Hisonly sister, Julia, now 16, learned the song and played it in his memory.Edwards said he always hated to run, but after his son's death he startedtraining and ran the Boston Marathon this year."I put some of Johnny's ashes in my back pocket,'' Edwards said, his voicecracking. "Together we ran the marathon.''Shelley Murphy can be reached at shmurphy. 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