From: "veracare" <[log in to unmask]>

Alliance for Human Research Protection

A Catalyst for Debate

FYI

A Canadian judge ruled that Prozac was the cause that led a teenage high

school student-- with no prior history of violence--to inexplicably murder

his friend by stabbing him with a single wound to the chest.

Judge Robert Heinrichs sentenced the boy a three-year sentence, less time

already served--which means he will serve 10 months remaining in jail.

Additionally he is required to be under community supervision for four

years.

The judge based his determination largely on the compelling expert testimony

by US psychiatrist, Peter Breggin, MD who submitted scientific evidence

showing the risk of drug-induced violence posed by antidepressants such as

Prozac.

According to court documents,  "The boy had been taking Prozac for three

months, during which time his behavior deteriorated. He became impulsive and

unpredictable, and suicidal. He also began to talk at times as if

fantasizing about violence. He seemed to become a different person to his

distraught parents."

The judge was also persuaded by the fact that when Prozac was withdrawn from

the boy, his behavior returned to normal.

" His basic normalcy now further confirms he no longer poses a risk of

violence to anyone and that his mental deterioration and resulting violence

would not have taken place without exposure to Prozac." 

 

Dr. Breggin testified that his primary care physician and his parents

alerted the prescribing psychiatric clinic to the boy's deteriorating

condition, but the clinic continued the Prozac and then doubled it.

Seventeen days after the increase in dosage, the teen committed the

violence." Dr. Breggin further testified that "the teen's use of Prozac

likely meant he wasn't in full control of his actions."

The court heard how the boy changed from a loving, happy-go-lucky kid to a

dark, depressed drug abuser. In sentencing the boy Judge Heinrichs noted

that the boy "began to act out violently and even tried to harm himself on

several occasions....it's clear the boy's parents did the right thing in

taking their concerns to his various doctors, but they were largely

ignored."

At sentencing, last Friday, Judge Heinrichs said: "(Prozac) clearly affected

his behaviour in an alarming way. He was simply not the same person."

This is the first criminal case in North America where a judge has

specifically found that an antidepressant was the cause of a murder.

Dr. Breggin noted that: "This is a landmark legal confirmation of the

scientific fact that the newer antidepressants like Prozac, including the

SSRI and SNRI antidepressants, can cause violence and even murder."

Read Winnipeg Free Press:

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/10-more-months-for-teen-who-cited-pro

zac-in-killing-133288373.html

 more: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8941528.htm

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav