Lawsuit Claims Accutane Caused Train Suicide

Early morning on Oct. 7, 2002, 14-year old Steven Wertheimer, a student at Palo Alto High School, threw himself in front of an Amtrak train going 45 mph at railroad crossing next to his high school’s football field.

Barry and Laurie Wertheimer, Steven’s parents, of Palo Alto California filed a lawsuit in 2003 against the maker of Accutane for negligence, fraud, and medical negligence, among other charges. The lawsuit contained more than 500 incidents of suicide, suicide attempts and suicidal ideas involving Accutane that have been filed by national and international health agencies.

Wertheimer had been described as an all-around, well-adjusted 14 year old with no history of mental health problems. He did, however, have acne problems and was prescribed Accutane by his family doctor.

Accutane is prescribed to treat severe acne when traditional (antibiotic-based) treatments fail. Unlike typical acne medication which is effective only if taken daily, Accutane is prescribed as a longer-term treatment which can last up to four or five months.

The most common side effects of Accutane can be chapped lips and dry, itchy skin. Most Accutane users can lessen these ailments by using readily available balms and skin moisturizers. Less commonly reported side effects can be temporary eye irritation, joint/muscle pain and thinning hair. Serious side effects such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s Disease have also been reported.

However, the suit says that Accutane’s maker is aware that “high doses of retinoids cause sudden onslaughts of psychosis, depression and suicidality.”

According to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner’s report in November 2002, “A possible side effect of this drug at high levels is depression. The actual levels in this case could not be tested because of inability to preserve the specimen in order to avoid breakdown.”

The family is seeking a jury trial and unspecified general and punitive damages.

This article was not written by an attorney and should not be considered as legal advice.

If you are interested in speaking with an attorney please contact an Accutane lawyer from Goldberg & Osborne in Phoenix, AZ.