Appeals Judge Finds Woman Negligent in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Case

Chicago, ILAn appellate judge recently ruled against a woman with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, finding that her contributory negligence was partially to blame for her condition.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">According to the decision written by US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner, Karen Robinson developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome after taking children's Motrin. However, she continued to take the drug after she developed a rash, despite the fact that the label warned against continuing the medication in the event of an allergic reaction.

Robinson sued McNeil Consumer Healthcare, the maker of the medication, claiming that the bottle did not warn of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. However, Posner ruled that by listing every possible adverse reaction, "the resulting information overload would make label warnings worthless to consumers."

Posner decided that by continuing to take the children's Motrin after developing a reaction, Robinson's negligence exceeded that of the drugmaker's.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare allergic reaction to a medication or infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. The reaction causes the skin to blister and eventually die and shed.