Learned Intermediary Doctrine Bars Paxil Suicide Claims, Court Affirms

ATLANTA - A federal appeals court has affirmed an award of summary judgment in a Paxil suicide case, ruling that the learned intermediary doctrine bars the claims against GlaxoSmithKline. Dietz v. GlaxoSmithKline, No. 09-10167 (11th Cir.).

The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on March 5 affirmed that because the decedent's doctor testified he would have prescribed the drug even if it were accompanied by the type of warning advocated by the plaintiffs, the drug could not have proximately caused the decedent's suicide.

Donna Laeden Dietz accused GSK of failing to warn doctors and their patients of suicide risks associated …