A Brief Summary of the Following Article
- Liability: In Ozempic lawsuits, “failure to warn” implies Novo Nordisk’s negligence in not adequately informing about the drug’s risks, potentially leading to legal liability for patient injuries.
- Evidence: Proving liability requires demonstrating Novo Nordisk’s duty of care breach through inadequate warnings, linking this to patient harm, and quantifying damages incurred.
- Eligibility: Individuals experiencing adverse effects like gastroparesis, ileus, severe vomiting, DVT, gallbladder removal, intestinal obstruction, or suicidal thoughts after using Ozempic, may qualify for compensation.
- Legal Support: Goza & Honnold offers legal assistance to those affected by Ozempic, focusing on recovering damages for negligence in informing about the drug’s potential dangers.
When seeking justice for injuries in an Ozempic lawsuit, failure to warn refers to the drug manufacturer’s legal obligation to provide adequate and clear warnings regarding the risks and side effects associated with Ozempic. If the manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, does not fulfill this obligation, they may be held liable for any harm that befalls patients as a result of their inadequate warnings to patients and physicians
If you were injured after taking Ozempic, the Ozempic lawyers of Goza & Honnold are prepared to fight for justice. You may be eligible to recover economic and non-economic damages you suffered as a result of manufacturer or prescriber negligence.
What Is Failure to Warn in an Ozempic Lawsuit?
Like all prescription medications, Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar semaglutide-based treatments, come with potential risks. However, patients can only be aware of these risks if they are properly informed. The labels on these medications list some common adverse reactions, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Yet, these same labels omit critical details about serious injuries and conditions that could lead to long-term or permanent harm. This failure to warn of crucial information means that both physicians and patients are not fully cognizant of the potential dangers associated with these drugs.
For instance, when Ozempic was introduced in December 2017, its labeling did not include warnings about several serious conditions, including gastroparesis, severe vomiting requiring hospital stays, bowel obstruction, the possibility of needing gallbladder surgery, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pancreatic cancer. It was not until March 2022 that Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wygovy, added warnings about gallbladder disease and the potential necessity for gallbladder removal to the Ozempic and Wegovy labels. However, this update was too late for many who had already suffered. Similarly, a warning about ileus was added to the “Adverse Reactions” section of the Ozempic and Wygovy labels in September 2023 after numerous patients had already suffered painful bowel obstructions, often requiring surgery.
Goza & Honnold is no stranger to the pattern of conduct at issue with Novo Nordisk and its failure to warn of known dangerous adverse events associated with Ozempic and Wygovy. Like many other pharmaceutical giants, Novo Nordisk adds warnings to its drugs labels only after patients report suffering from conditions that should have been disclosed from the beginning.
Novo Nordisk, a leading company in the market of injectable semaglutide for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss, was aware that gastroparesis was a likely side effect due to the drug’s mechanism of action. Additionally, despite evidence linking semaglutide to DVT, Novo Nordisk has yet to adequately warn of the risk of fatal blood clots.
Despite the addition of new warnings, Novo Nordisk continues to market Ozempic and Wegovy with insufficient labeling, failing to provide patients and doctors with essential information necessary for making informed decisions about the drugs’ use. As patients face harmful side effects and adverse events, the manufacturers continue to profit, compromising public health in the process.
How to Prove Liability in an Ozempic Lawsuit
Proving liability in an Ozempic lawsuit involves establishing that harm was caused to a patient due to negligence on the part of the drug manufacturer, Novo Nordisk. This process requires demonstrating several key elements:
- Duty of Care: It must first be shown that Novo Nordisk owed a duty of care to its customers. As a pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk is expected to ensure its products are safe for use and that all potential risks are communicated properly to both healthcare providers and patients through the drug’s warning label.
- Breach of Duty: Victims must prove that Novo Nordisk breached this duty of care. In the context of an Ozempic lawsuit, this could involve showing that the company failed to provide adequate warnings about the drug’s serious side effects or that it did not properly research the drug’s safety profile.
- Causation: Victims need to demonstrate that the breach of duty – such as inadequate warnings or insufficient safety testing – directly caused the injury or condition. Medical records, expert testimony, and evidence of the drug’s effects, are often used to link the use of Ozempic to the harm suffered.
- Damages: Finally, victims must prove they suffered tangible and intangible damages as a result of the injury. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other forms of physical, emotional, and financial harm.
To build a strong case, the Ozempic attorney of Goza & Honnold may use the following types of evidence:
- Medical Evidence: Documentation of the injury or condition attributed to Ozempic, including hospital records, treatment history, and expert opinions.
- Scientific Studies: Research that highlights the risks associated with Ozempic and demonstrates that Novo Nordisk was or should have been aware of these risks.
- Regulatory Actions: Any warnings, fines, or other actions taken by health regulatory agencies against Novo Nordisk concerning Ozempic can support the claim of negligence.
- Internal Documents: Evidence from Novo Nordisk, such as internal emails, memos, or reports, may reveal the company’s knowledge of the drug’s risks and its decisions regarding safety warnings.
Successfully proving liability in an Ozempic lawsuit requires a comprehensive approach that combines focused knowledge of the legal process to prove a breach of duty as well as medical and scientific evidence corroborating causation.
Are You Eligible to Seek Compensation in an Ozempic Lawsuit?
The Ozempic lawyers of Goza & Honnold are actively pursuing legal action on behalf of parties who have suffered injuries due to semaglutide or weight loss medications. We are currently reviewing claims related to product liability for the following conditions:
- Gastroparesis: Known colloquially as “stomach paralysis” or “frozen stomach,” gastroparesis is a serious condition affecting the digestive system where the stomach’s muscles and nerves cease functioning. This paralysis impedes the normal movement of food through the digestive system.
- Ileus: This term refers to the obstruction of the ileum, a section of the small intestine, or a general intestinal blockage. Both gastroparesis and ileus are serious and may require urgent medical attention, potentially including surgery, and could cause lasting harm.
- Severe and Chronic Vomiting: This type of vomiting is so intense that it necessitates an overnight hospital stay (not simply an emergency room visit). While vomiting is temporary, its severe form can precipitate other health issues such as dehydration, kidney failure, or esophageal damage due to prolonged exposure to stomach acid.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Other Blood Clots: DVT refers to a clot forming within a deep leg vein. If overlooked, DVT can evolve into a critical and potentially fatal condition like a pulmonary embolism, which is a clot in the lungs.
- Gallbladder Removal: The surgical term for this procedure is cholecystectomy, which may become necessary if a party develops gallstones or other gallbladder-related problems, leading to intense abdominal discomfort. Goza & Honnold is looking into possible claims for those who were using Ozempic or stopped its use within 21 days and underwent gallbladder surgery before March 2022.
- Intestinal Obstruction: This can occur due to constipation, dehydration, and delayed transit of food through the gastrointestinal tract.
- Suicidal Thoughts and Suicide Attempts: We are examining cases where patients have experienced suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide while using these medications.
If you faced negative effects while or after using Ozempic or similar weight loss drugs, you may have legal recourse to pursue various damages for losses and injuries.
Speak With the Ozempic Attorney of Goza & Honnold Today
If you have suffered harm after taking Ozempic, it is important to seek the guidance of an Ozempic lawyer right away. The duty of a drug manufacturer like Novo Nordisk is to ensure that its drugs, like Ozempic and Wygovy, come with clear and comprehensive information about their potential side effects and dangers. A failure to fulfill this legal duty can lead to serious health consequences for patients. The Ozempic lawyers of Goza & Honnold are prepared to fight to recover the economic and non-economic damages sustained due to such negligence.
Contact the Ozempic attorney of Goza & Honnold today for a free consultation at (913) 451-3433 or fill out a contact form so we may evaluate your case and seek justice and compensation for injuries.