Increase in Birth Defects Linked to Fathers’ Use of Diabetes Drugs
A front-line drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes has recently been found to have the potential to increase the risk of certain birth defects in children fathered by men who take the drug within a certain window.
Diabetes Drug Metformin Linked to Increased Risk of Birth Defects
A study in Denmark that reviewed records of over one million births between 1997 and 2016 concluded that the use of the diabetes drug metformin by men in the three months before conception led to an increased risk of birth defects in children fathered by those men. Specifically, the study found a statistically significant association between genital birth defects in male babies and metformin use. The three-month window prior to conception was found to have the effect on the risk of birth defects since sperm take about three months to fully mature.
The study controlled for the effects that diabetes can have on sperm quality and male fertility, and found no other significant links between birth defects and paternal use of other diabetes medications, such as insulin. However, the study authors conceded that they lacked data on other aspects of fathers’ diabetes, such as their medication compliance or glycemic control, or other potential risk factors for birth defects such as parents’ socioeconomic status.
An editorial published along with the study stated that evidence from other studies indicated that the antiandrogenic effects of oral diabetes medications such as metformin may explain the increased risk of birth defects.
Does Your Family Have Rights If Your Child Suffered Birth Defects?
You and your family may have legal rights against pharmaceutical manufacturers if your child suffered birth defects when their father took metformin prior to the child’s conception. Proving a legal case against a pharmaceutical company will first require establishing, to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, that there is a medical link between a father’s metformin use and children’s birth defects.
To establish the pharmaceutical company’s liability, you will also need to prove that the drug was unreasonably dangerous or that the company failed to warn consumers about the risk that metformin use by men could increase the chance of their children developing birth defects. This often requires proof that the pharmaceutical company had data proving the link between metformin use and an increase in the risk of birth defects.
What Can You Be Compensated for in a Dangerous Drug Lawsuit?
If you can show that pharmaceutical manufacturers are responsible for putting dangerous drugs on the market or failing to warn consumers about the risks of side effects from their drugs, you and your family may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses incurred due to your child’s birth defects, including for:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Long-term care costs, including home health services, special education services, purchases of mobility devices and assistive equipment, or home renovations to accommodate disabilities caused by birth defects
- Pain and suffering endured by your child
- Loss of enjoyment or quality of life suffered by your child due to disabilities, disfigurement, or reduced life expectancy because of a birth defect
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Near You to Discuss Your Defective Medication Case in New Jersey
Were you or a loved one injured in New Jersey due to a defective prescription? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Drazin and Warshaw, P.C. represent clients injured in Middlesex, Edison, Perth Amboy, Westfield, New Brunswick, and throughout Ocean County, Monmouth County, Union County, and Middlesex County, New Jersey. Call (732) 576-8860 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3315 Route 35, Hazlet, NJ 07730 as well as offices in Red Bank, Brick, and Westfield.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
