What Should You Do if Your Loved One Died from ZANTAC Cancer?
On April 1, 2020, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that manufacturers would need to remove all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine drugs from the market. Ranitidine is the generic version for the brand medication commonly known as Zantac.
Since then, drug manufacturers have been named in numerous personal injury lawsuits involving patient who were diagnosed with cancer after being treated with Zantac.
If you or a loved one suffered illness or your loved one passed away from Zantac cancer, you may be wondering what you should do to potentially win compensation on behalf of your or your loved ones suffering. One of the most common questions that comes up is, can you file a lawsuit on behalf of a loved one who passed away from taking Zantac? We have put together this guide to help answer this question and provide steps on what you should do if your loved one died from Zantac.
What is Zantac?
On the market since the early 1980s, Zantac is the over-the-counter brand name for ranitidine. It is an acid-suppressing medication for those suffering from heartburn and acid reflux.
How Does Zantac Possibly Cause cancer?
The recall of Zantac came after the FDA confirmed that this medication contained high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a chemical that has been linked to cancer. NDMA levels can increase over time if the drug is stored above certain temperatures and combined with stomach acid.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Reporting System (FAERS) published the following numbers from people taking Zantac from 1983 through 2020:
- 20,473 adverse reactions
- 7,988 severe cases (including deaths)
- 694 deaths
What Cancers Can Zantac Cause?
Zantac has been linked to numerous types of cancers, including:
- Esophageal, stomach, small intestine, and colorectal cancers
- Liver and pancreatic cancer
- Kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer
- Brain and lung cancer
- Thyroid and nasal/throat cancer
- Testicular, ovarian, uterine cancer
Can I File a Lawsuit on Behalf of a Loved One that Passed Away from Zantac Cancer?
There is evidence that Zantac manufacturers knew about the dangers of the medication and its link to cancer-causing agents, but failed to disclose this to consumers. Given the significant use of prescription and over-the-counter ranitidine medications over the past few decades, thousands of people face potentially severe serious health risks.
If you lost a loved one who took Zantac, you could seek financial compensation on their behalf. With the help of a Pennsylvania Zantac lawyer, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit.
What is a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
A wrongful death lawsuit is filed on behalf of the deceased by a family member or personal representative against another person or company who can be held accountable for that person’s death.
If your spouse or loved one had a history of taking Zantac, was diagnosed with cancer, and consequently died, you could have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Families usually receive compensation for damages suffered by the deceased before their death, damages to their estate, and their own damages. These damages can include the:
- Decedent’s pre-death pain and suffering
- Medical treatment costs that the deceased incurred as a result of the injury or illness
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of any inheritance as a resulting from the death as well as anticipated income
- Value of the services that the deceased would have provided if they had lived
- Loss of care, nurturing, guidance, love, and companionship
What about MDL 2924?
The most notable lawsuit involving Zantac is MDL 2924, which according to the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), MDL has 140 individual actions.
Some of the declarations include that:
- Everyone taking Zantac or other medication containing ranitidine has been put at risk of developing cancer.
- The number of cases currently known is likely to increase dramatically over the next few years.
If you choose to move forward with legal action on behalf of your loved one based on the danger of Zantac, then you may help confirm that more lawsuits related to this medication are in order.
How Do You Know If You Have a Buildable Case?
If your loved one died from cancer related to taking Zantac, one of the first steps that you should take is to collect relevant evidence you will need to file a lawsuit.
Helpful evidence in a Zantac case can include, but is not limited to:
- Relevant medical records providing details of Zantac use (prescriptions, store receipts, doctor’s notes, etc.)
- Test results and other documentation of the diagnosis and prognosis
- Medical bills, receipts from paid accounts, proof of lost wages, and other documentation of losses
Two of the most critical elements that your lawyer will need to prove in your Zantac case include:
- Your loved one used Zantac or another ranitidine medication; and
- They were diagnosed with a potentially related health condition
Did your Loved One Pass Away from Taking Zantac?
A successful Zantac wrongful death lawsuit will show that the drug companies are responsible for causing death and that the damages sustained by the deceased directly resulted from the manufacturers’ negligence.
If your loved one died from taking Zantac, seek the legal advice of a skilled Zantac attorney. IPG Law Groups, LLC, a highly experienced firm of clinician attorneys and victim’s rights advocates is here to assist the families of Zantac and other ranitidine medication victims, and potentially help you win the compensation you or your loved one deserve.
