Anthony Dedrick loses Vioxx case due to poor health

I had talked previously about the lawsuit filed by a 51-year old Tennessee man, Anthony Wayne Dedrick claiming that Vioxx was the major reason for his heart attack. I am sad to report that, in yet another situation, a plaintiff's unhealthy lifestyle choice has been a factor in his losing his Vioxx lawsuit. Not only did this gentleman smoke and used cocaine, he also suffered from diabetes, high cholesterol, and has a family history of heart disease.

While there is overwhelming evidence to show that Vioxx was a deadly painkiller and could be fatal even if taken occasionally or in small doses, but for those patients who have other medical conditions or are in poor health due to other causes like obesity, it is hard to prove that there is a link between Vioxx and their heart attack or stroke.

According to the United States Food & Drug Administration estimates, as many as 60,000 Americans were killed by Vioxx and the company is facing as many as 24,000 lawsuits. Less than a dozen cases have gone to trial so far and Merck has won seven cases so far, almost all of them on the basis of poor health of the plaintiffs.