MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The family of a pregnant woman who died while taking an
experimental AIDS (news - web sites) drugs to protect her baby from
getting the disease is suing the doctors, drug makers and hospitals
involved in the study for $10 million.


AP Photo

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Joyce Ann Hafford's mother and sister allege in the suit filed Tuesday
that doctors continued to give Hafford the drug regimen despite signs of
liver failure. The suit also claims doctors didn't warn the 33-year-old
HIV (news - web sites)-positive woman of the trial's dangers.


"She trusted doctors to treat her, and they failed her," said Rubbie King,
Hafford's sister.


A spokeswoman at Regional Medical Center in Memphis, where Hafford was
treated, said hospital policy prevented them from commenting on the suit.



Family members said they did not learn the National Institutes of Health
(news - web sites) had concluded the drug therapy most likely caused
Hafford's death until The Associated Press obtained copies of the case
file this month.


For the past year, family members believed Hafford died from AIDS
complications.


NIH officials quickly suspected the drug regimen because it included
nevirapine, an antiretroviral AIDS drug known to cause liver problems.
Hafford's death in August 2003, less than 72 hours after her son Sterling
was born prematurely, halted the federal government research program of
nevirapine.


Hafford learned she was HIV-positive when she became pregnant in spring
2003, and shortly after started the NIH-funded clinical trial of the drugs
Combivir and nevirapine, also known as Viramune, hoping to block
transmission to her son.


The baby was born HIV-negative.


The family first filed a wrongful death suit in June, but withdrew it in
September because lawyers felt they didn't have enough evidence.


Among the defendants named in the suit are several doctors and nurses who
treated Hafford, the Regional Medical Center and drug makers
GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.


A message at British manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline's American offices said
they were closed for the holidays. Boehringer Ingelheim is based in
Germany.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The family of a pregnant woman who died while taking an
experimental AIDS (news - web sites) drugs to protect her baby from
getting the disease is suing the doctors, drug makers and hospitals
involved in the study for $10 million.
Joyce Ann Hafford's mother and sister allege in the suit filed Tuesday
that doctors continued to give Hafford the drug regimen despite signs of
liver failure. The suit also claims doctors didn't warn the 33-year-old
HIV (news - web sites)-positive woman of the trial's dangers.
"She trusted doctors to treat her, and they failed her," said Rubbie King,
Hafford's sister.
A spokeswoman at Regional Medical Center in Memphis, where Hafford was
treated, said hospital policy prevented them from commenting on the suit.

Family members said they did not learn the National Institutes of Health
(news - web sites) had concluded the drug therapy most likely caused
Hafford's death until The Associated Press obtained copies of the case
file this month.
For the past year, family members believed Hafford died from AIDS
complications.
NIH officials quickly suspected the drug regimen because it included
nevirapine, an antiretroviral AIDS drug known to cause liver problems.
Hafford's death in August 2003, less than 72 hours after her son Sterling
was born prematurely, halted the federal government research program of
nevirapine.
Hafford learned she was HIV-positive when she became pregnant in spring
2003, and shortly after started the NIH-funded clinical trial of the drugs
Combivir and nevirapine, also known as Viramune, hoping to block
transmission to her son.
The baby was born HIV-negative.
The family first filed a wrongful death suit in June, but withdrew it in
September because lawyers felt they didn't have enough evidence.
Among the defendants named in the suit are several doctors and nurses who
treated Hafford, the Regional Medical Center and drug makers
GlaxoSmithKline and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.
A message at British manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline's American offices said
they were closed for the holidays. Boehringer Ingelheim is based in
Germany.