An American jury has awarded $15 million to an Oklahoma City physician who suffered botulism poisoning after using the popular anti-wrinkle drug Botox – the trade name for botulinum toxin, type A, which has been described by the Journal of the American Medical Association (February 28, 2001, 285: 1059-1070) as “the most poisonous substance known.” The jury found that Allergan Inc., the maker of Botox Cosmetic, was negligent. Jurors voted 10-2 to give 48-year old Dr. Sharla Helton $15 million in actual damages. Her response to the negligence verdict:

“Hopefully, people will wake up to the real dangers. It’s a stepping stone for now for public awareness.”

Dr. Helton, an Oklahoma City obstetrician and gynecologist, complained of severe side effects after getting injections of 50 units of Botox in 2006. It was her fifth treatment for wrinkles. She eventually had to quit her medical practice, and stepped down as medical director of Lakeside Women’s Hospital in Oklahoma City because of pain and weakness. She says she is still debilitated by weakness but hopes to get back to practising medicine again in some way.

Her attorney, Ray Chester, said:

“We are convinced there are a great number of Botox victims that have not yet associated their symptoms and illnesses with their use of Botox. I think there are a lot of people out there who have been hurt by this product and maybe now they’ll have the courage to come forward.”  Continue reading →