ATTORNEY GENERAL

I have written a letter to our Attorney General.  The recent article in the Oakville Beaver saddens me.  With the knowledge publicly available about this medication, I cannot understand why our children are still being prescribed paxil.  When will it end?  When will Canada investigate GlaxoSmithKline, and their medication paxil?  When will they be held accountable for their actions in Canada?

Another child lost a life needlessly, and it’s time for Canada to step up to the plate.  I will post the response from our Attorney General when received.

July 25, 2008

Chris Bentley

Attorney General
Ministry of the Attorney General
McMurtry-Scott Building
720 Bay Street, 11th Floor
Toronto, ON
M5G 2K1

Re:      Public Safety - Pharmaceutical Crime

I’m writing you this letter today in regards to a very important issue regarding the medication Paxil.    My daughter was a victim of crime.  The crime has been carried out by a large pharmaceutical, GlaxoSmithKline.  GlaxoSmithKline manufacturers paxil worldwide. It has been proven in court, and acknowledged by GlaxoSmithKline, that they withheld clinical data from a children’s drug trial.  GlaxoSmithKline is responsible for playing with figures of drug trial 329 for children.  They chose profit over our children’s lives.  This company purposely provided the FDA with false data.  By doing this, children have suffered needlessly.  In some cases, GlaxoSmithKline’s actions have caused death, by paxil induced suicides. 

In the United States, there is an ongoing investigation, with the possibility of criminal charges.  I have met personally with a GlaxoSmithKline legal representative.  Their lawyer flew in from the US, and met with both my daughter, and myself.  Their legal representative had reviewed my child’s medical records, acknowledged my daughter’s suffering, looked her in the eye, and apologized.   Months later I was told that they would not be issuing compensation; they would not be paying for lost education as discussed.  Why?  We reside on Canadian soil.  Apparently, GlaxoSmithKline doesn’t have to compensate Canadian children.  It says a lot about accountability in Canada. 

The meeting with GlaxoSmithKline was a long time ago now.  What provoked this letter?  Yet another child in Ontario has been harmed by paxil.  This child lost their life to suicide.  If you’re interested in the story, it can be found at the following link on the Internet: http://www.oakvillebeaver.com/news/article/192960

The child was prescribed paxil, and hung herself in her parent’s basement. 

As with my daughter, paxil was prescribed for school anxiety.  Paxil side effects cause severe mental anguish, suicidal behaviour, and leads to numerous mental health labels.  Paxil shouldn’t be prescribed at all, let alone for school anxiety.

This medication now comes with a black box warning.  If children from the age of sixteen are prescribed medication without parental consent in Canada, what good is the black box warning?  Who will look out for the child?  Would it not be better to stop all new prescriptions of paxil since it is public knowledge that the medication can harm children?  What other GlaxoSmithKline products are not safe?

For further details of my daughter’s experience, or to view GlaxoSmithKline internal memo’s, and other documentation, visit my website:  paxilharmschildren.com

What is taking place has been going on for years now.  In other countries, GlaxoSmithKline pays out compensation not only to children, but to adults as well.  The compensation is accompanied with a seven page gag order ensuring that they do not discuss paxil, nor discuss financial settlements with anyone.  This ensures to keep the dangers of paxil out of circulation.  I have a full copy of a seven page gag order should you be interested in seeing it.

Along with the severe side effects of this medication, GlaxoSmithKline has litigated with people due to paxil-induced brain damage.  We have a generation of children now on paxil, what does their future hold?  A life of side effects, possible brain damage, or suicide.  Someone needs to explain to me why, why are children still being prescribed this medication in Canada?  Why does GlaxoSmithKline have free rein in Canada without any accountability in regards to criminal activity within their organization?  Is it because GlaxoSmithKline financially supports many of our community programs? 

I have written numerous letters over the years, with no result.  I’m hoping you will be able to help. I would like a written response to the following questions:

1.                  Who in Canada is responsible for overseeing criminal actions of pharmaceutical companies in regards to public safety?

2.                  What can you do to ensure more Canadian children do not become victims of GlaxoSmithKline’s medication paxil?

Thank you in advance for the time taken on this very important issue.

Sincerely,

Rita Dempster

And the response received August 14, 2009