Widow to testify at Senate committee hearing on drug safety

Delynbetter · 03-14-2007, 01:35 PM

http://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelea...etail&ID=15832

Baum Hedlund client, Kimberly Witczak, is the only victim scheduled to testify on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Ms. Witczak will be testifying about the need for proper warnings on drug labels and the need for FDA reform. She wants the black box warnings now in effect concerning an increased risk of suicidality in children and adolescents to extend to adults of all ages.

What: U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS

Hearing: Drug User Fees: Enhancing Patient Access and Drug Safety

When: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 – 10:15 am

Where: Room 430, Dirksen Senate Office Building

Who: Witness List: Panel I - Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Rockville, MD. Panel II - Kim Witczak, Founder of Woody Matters, Minneapolis, MN; Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC; D. Bruce Burlington, MD, Executive Vice President, Quality, Regulatory and Safety, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, PA; Diane Dorman, Vice President, Public Policy, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Washington, DC.

Kim Witczak's written statement: http://www.consumersunion.org/KimWit...nStatement.pdf

Consumer's Union press release: http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/co...re/004312.html

About Kim and Woody Witczak

Kim's husband, Timothy (Woody) Witczak, was a 37-year-old dynamic and upbeat, happily married man who was prescribed Zoloft because he was having difficulty sleeping due to job-related stress. He was on Zoloft for about five weeks with an increased dose before he committed suicide (by hanging himself from the rafters in his garage). He had no history of mental illness or suicidality.

His symptoms after Zoloft and before his death included profuse sweating, worsened insomnia, horrible nightmares, headaches, agitation and an odd feeling in his head (he told his wife that he felt like his head was "detached from [his] body.") This phenomenon has been acknowledged by Pfizer in internal company documents to be a side effect of Zoloft.

Kim Witczak has become an influential victim advocate for drug safety. As a result of Woody’s death, Kim established www.woodymatters.com. The website serves as an information clearing house on antidepressant risks and a forum for other victims. FDA reform has become an increasingly important goal of woodymatters.com. Kim has traveled to Washington D.C. over 20 times to advocate for antidepressant warnings as well as FDA reform. Kim has, on numerous occasions, testified before the FDA, US Congress, and Minnesota legislature concerning these issues. Kim’s story has been featured in a number of news reports, including the November 2005 issue of Fortune Magazine and in an I-Team feature on WCCO TV in Minneapolis. She has also been on NPR regarding drug advertising.

See: WCCO TV I-Team Report: www.wcco.com/iteam/local_story_142142535.html
Star Tribune article “The Battle for Woody”: http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/media/...-for-Woody.pdf

About Baum Hedlund

Baum Hedlund has been advocating for better warning labels on antidepressants since 1990, when it first took on Eli Lilly in the Prozac suicide litigation. The firm has since handled litigation against Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline for suicides in people taking Zoloft or Paxil. In addition to representing thousands in antidepressant injury cases, one of the firm's partners, Karen Barth Menzies, has testified four times before the government, including in December of 2006, regarding the need for proper warnings for adults of all ages taking antidepressants. Ms. Menzies' December 2006 submission to the FDA regarding antidepressant suicidality in adults and the referenced internal company documents can be viewed by going to: http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/KBMFDA...enComments.htm

Charlie · 03-14-2007, 04:50 PM

No doubt that Kim will do very well representing victims everywhere.

scotty · 03-14-2007, 09:51 PM

Kim and her brother in law are AWESOME!!

03-14-2007, 01:35 PM	#1
Delynbetter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 10,518	Widow to testify at Senate committee hearing on drug safety http://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelea...etail&ID=15832 Baum Hedlund client, Kimberly Witczak, is the only victim scheduled to testify on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Ms. Witczak will be testifying about the need for proper warnings on drug labels and the need for FDA reform. She wants the black box warnings now in effect concerning an increased risk of suicidality in children and adolescents to extend to adults of all ages. What: U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS Hearing: Drug User Fees: Enhancing Patient Access and Drug Safety When: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 – 10:15 am Where: Room 430, Dirksen Senate Office Building Who: Witness List: Panel I - Andrew von Eschenbach, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Rockville, MD. Panel II - Kim Witczak, Founder of Woody Matters, Minneapolis, MN; Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, DC; D. Bruce Burlington, MD, Executive Vice President, Quality, Regulatory and Safety, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, PA; Diane Dorman, Vice President, Public Policy, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Washington, DC. Kim Witczak's written statement: http://www.consumersunion.org/KimWit...nStatement.pdf Consumer's Union press release: http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/co...re/004312.html About Kim and Woody Witczak Kim's husband, Timothy (Woody) Witczak, was a 37-year-old dynamic and upbeat, happily married man who was prescribed Zoloft because he was having difficulty sleeping due to job-related stress. He was on Zoloft for about five weeks with an increased dose before he committed suicide (by hanging himself from the rafters in his garage). He had no history of mental illness or suicidality. His symptoms after Zoloft and before his death included profuse sweating, worsened insomnia, horrible nightmares, headaches, agitation and an odd feeling in his head (he told his wife that he felt like his head was "detached from [his] body.") This phenomenon has been acknowledged by Pfizer in internal company documents to be a side effect of Zoloft. Kim Witczak has become an influential victim advocate for drug safety. As a result of Woody’s death, Kim established www.woodymatters.com. The website serves as an information clearing house on antidepressant risks and a forum for other victims. FDA reform has become an increasingly important goal of woodymatters.com. Kim has traveled to Washington D.C. over 20 times to advocate for antidepressant warnings as well as FDA reform. Kim has, on numerous occasions, testified before the FDA, US Congress, and Minnesota legislature concerning these issues. Kim’s story has been featured in a number of news reports, including the November 2005 issue of Fortune Magazine and in an I-Team feature on WCCO TV in Minneapolis. She has also been on NPR regarding drug advertising. See: WCCO TV I-Team Report: www.wcco.com/iteam/local_story_142142535.html Star Tribune article “The Battle for Woody”: http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/media/...-for-Woody.pdf About Baum Hedlund Baum Hedlund has been advocating for better warning labels on antidepressants since 1990, when it first took on Eli Lilly in the Prozac suicide litigation. The firm has since handled litigation against Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline for suicides in people taking Zoloft or Paxil. In addition to representing thousands in antidepressant injury cases, one of the firm's partners, Karen Barth Menzies, has testified four times before the government, including in December of 2006, regarding the need for proper warnings for adults of all ages taking antidepressants. Ms. Menzies' December 2006 submission to the FDA regarding antidepressant suicidality in adults and the referenced internal company documents can be viewed by going to: http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/KBMFDA...enComments.htm __________________ Diagnosed anxiety/panic disorder without agoraphobia 1989. Talk/music therapy. Major anxiety and mild depression in 2004 from situational stressors. Began Paxil CR 25mg, 10/04. Quit cold-turkey 5/5/05 as demanded by doctor. Found paxilprogress 5/17/05. Began Paxil CR 12.5mg 5/17/05. Weaned 4 1/2 months. During taper - anx/panic/depression, manic episodes, agoraphobia, suicidal ideation, many other physical symptoms. Paxil-free 10/2/05.

03-14-2007, 04:50 PM	#2
Charlie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 7,561	Re: Widow to testify at Senate committee hearing on drug safety No doubt that Kim will do very well representing victims everywhere. __________________ The truth is the truth even if no one believes it, and a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it." Knowledge speaks ....... Wisdom listens Charlie www.ThePaxilProtest.com

03-14-2007, 09:51 PM	#3
scotty Administrator & Advocate Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 38,588	Re: Widow to testify at Senate committee hearing on drug safety Kim and her brother in law are AWESOME!! __________________ AKA Laurie "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

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