The family of Milagros Larosa filed suit against GlaxoSmithKline, alleging the Philadelphia-based company failed to warn Avandia consumers that the drug is associated with a significant increase in heart problems.

The 65-year-old Larosa was in the hospital three times over a year for heart problems before she suffered a fatal stroke. Her lawyers argue that all of this was the result of her use of Avandia.

On December 17, 2007, Rogelio Larosa and his son Eric filed a wrongful death lawsuit in U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. The lawsuit alleges that GSK knew, or should have known, that the drug was associated with increased rates of heart failure, myocardial ischemia, heart attack, and stroke.

Mrs. Larosa was a registered nurse at Frederica Convalescent Hospital in Chula Vista and worked there for 20 years.

Source: “Nurse’s Family Files Avandia Wrongful Death Lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline,” Lawyersandsettlements.com, December 18, 2007.