Learned Intermediary Doctrine Bars Claims Against Pharmacists, Federal Judge Rules

RENO, Nev. — A Nevada federal judge has ruled that the learned intermediary doctrine bars claims brought against two pharmacies in a lawsuit alleging that Paxil caused a woman to stab and kill her husband in 2009. Baymiller, et al. v. Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc., et al., No. 3:11-858 (D. Nev.).

In a July 9 opinion, Chief Judge Robert C. Jones of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada explained that the Nevada Supreme Court has adopted the learned intermediary doctrine in the context of pharmacist/customer tort litigation and held that pharmacists have no duty to warn of a …