Woman Claims her Husband’s Wrongful Death Resulted from Actos Bladder Cancer

In an upsetting lawsuit filed in January of this year, plaintiff Linda Ruff alleges that the diabetes drug Actos directly resulted in her husband, Evan Ruff’s, diagnosis of bladder cancer and resulting death. Linda is suing Actos manufacturers Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilley for damages relating to her husband’s death.

Actos Lawsuit Seeks Punitive and Compensatory Damages

According to Linda’s complaint, Evan used the drug Actos for many years to control his type II diabetes. He was completely unaware of evidence showing a risk of Actos bladder cancer. Eight months after his diagnosis, Evan succumbed to his disease in September 2010 after “severe and permanent personal injuries, surgical procedures, pain, suffering and mental anguish.”

Linda is suing Takeda and Eli Lilley for damages relating to the wrongful death of her husband. Her Actos lawsuit seeks punitive and compensatory damages of more than $75,000.

Ruff’s lawsuit also raises another recurrent issue with regard to Actos – that the warnings accompanying the drug are inadequate and do not properly apprise consumers and medical professionals of the risk for serious Actos side effects. Ruff calls the warnings “vague, incomplete or otherwise inadequate,” and claims that her husband would have reconsidered taking the drug if he had been made fully aware of these risks. Ruff’s complaint has been added to the federal MDL in the Western District of Louisiana.

Regulatory Agencies Take Action Against Actos Bladder Cancer

It took until 2011 for government regulatory agencies to act on reports of Actos related bladder cancer. Both France and Germany instituted a recall of the drug that year. In the United States, the FDA issued a warning to American consumers about the risk of Actos bladder cancer, but chose not to issue a full-scale recall.

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