On August 19, 2005, a jury in Texas awarded a landmark $253.4 million wrongful death settlement to the widow of 59 year-old Robert Ernst because of alleged Vioxx-related complications. Out of the 4200 cases filed in courts of law, this was the first time that legal action had succeeded against Merck, the multinational pharmaceutical drug maker.

Vioxx is a COX-2 Inhibitor designed by the drug maker Merck Inc. that was ordered off American and European markets on April 7th, 2005 after evidence of severe and potentially deadly side effects emerged.

Scientists and doctors believed that Vioxx could cause serious cardiovascular problems, and the jury in the Ernst case agreed that Vioxx had caused a heart attack that led to a fatal arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat. In fact, since Vioxx was released in 1999, there have been between 88,000 and 139,000 similar cardiovascular events.

Experts now agree that Merck knew of the danger that Vioxx posed, but instead chose to market it as a safe way to reduce pain and inflammation. This gross miscalculation has lead to a variety of dangerous and sometimes deadly complications, including deep vein thrombosis, Ischemic stroke, pulmonary embolism, blood clots, and other devastating episodes of heart damage and permanent injury.

The 4200 people who have filed lawsuits against Merck are not the only people who have suffered because of Vioxx. Friends and families of the victims must pick up their shattered lives and face the reality that deception, negligence, and greed have robbed them of people they cared about. Merck gambled with the lives of people who trusted the pharmaceutical industry. Gambled, and lost.

If you believe that you may be affected with Vioxx-induced complications, take a stand. Drug makers are banking on those who have been injured by Vioxx to remain silent out of fear or intimidation. You should stand up for your rights, and make irresponsible drug companies pay when they put their profits ahead of your safety. Every person who is injured and stays silent is another victory for the greedy companies who count on your inaction to prevent justice. A lawsuit could be one of the few tools of recourse that can ensure that companies acknowledge their accountability. Contact a lawyer today to explore your legal options.

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