Medical Malpractice: The Risks of Prescribing Accutane

Karen Gatlin

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Accutane is a drug commonly used to treat acne, a troublesome but non lethal skin condition. Therefore, the benefits of Accutane must be carefully weighed against its risks. Both precribing physicians and their patients must appreciate the dangers of the drug which the FDA has documented. Among the risks are: miscarriage, severe birth defects; liver, colon and lung injuries; and heart and brain injuries such as heart attack and stroke. Indeed, Accutane has been described as one of the most dangerous drugs available. See Green, J. Babies, Blemishes and the FDA: A History of Accutane Regulation in the United States, Harvard Law School, March 2002.