Charlotte Woman Whose Baby Died Sues Abbott Alleging its Milk is Dangerous to Premature Babies

A woman from Charlotte has filed a lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories, the makers of Similac. The lawsuit alleged that Similac is dangerous to premature babies. Brianna Anthony, the mom, also alleged that Similac caused her three-month-old daughter's death.

Anthony claimed she gave birth to Reign in June 2021 at only 23 weeks. The mom said the baby was relatively healthy for someone born prematurely, but she required a feeding tube and a breathing machine. The doctors reportedly asked Anthony if she could switch the baby to Similac, a move the mom protested. However, the doctor fed the baby Similac without her consent. Reign eventually became sick and passed away in September 2021, WCNC reports.

As per the lawsuit, Abbott's product caused Reign to develop Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), a severe gastrointestinal problem that affects premature babies. The condition causes intestinal tissues to inflame, leading to the infant's death.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

According to Cleveland Clinic, NEC affects one in 1,000 premature infants, and babies weighing less than two pounds are at risk.

The lawsuit noted that babies born prematurely, with low birth weights, and are fed with formula products like Similac and other cow-based products are at a higher risk of developing NEC.

The family blamed the company's formula for the death of her baby. Roy Willey, a partner at the Anastopoulo Law Firm and representing Anthony in the case, said that Similac should not be used for preterm infants.

Reign's doctors wanted her to gain weight faster since the baby was just over a pound when she was born. The doctors put the baby on a human milk fortifier to supplement Anthony's breastmilk.

Anthony reportedly pleaded with her doctor not to give the baby a human milk fortifier because she read its risks from research and studies. However, Willy said the doctors gave it to the child anyway, even without the mother's consent.

Anthony's legal representative said that while Reign was on the formula, she developed NEC, causing the baby's death.

The lawsuit also indicated that the product should have "stronger and cleared warnings," or it should not have been sold in the market. Willy said that hundreds of other families had come forward with similar complaints regarding Abbott's human milk fortifier for preterm infants.

Willey said they had consolidated the cases involving NEC and Abbott Laboratories and will bring them to court next week.

Abbott's Statement

According to WSOC-TV, in response to the lawsuit, Abbott sent a statement expressing that they were sorry to hear about the tragic event. However, the milk company clarified that they had spent decades researching, developing, testing, and producing formulas and fortifiers for premature infants, claiming that countless infants have benefitted from the product.

The statement also expressed that the allegations in the lawsuit are without merit, claiming that the case advances a theory promoted by the plaintiff lawyers than the medical community.