Woman files lawsuits over baby's Benadryl death
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BARTOW, Florida (AP) -- A Florida woman is suing the baby sitter who gave her daughter a fatal dose of Benadryl, along with the maker of the drug and the pharmacy that she says sold the product.
Paula Burcham was sentenced in August to eight years in prison for giving 3 1/2-month-old Grace Fields a lethal dose of Benadryl.
The child died from intoxication by diphenhydramine, the drug's active ingredient. Benadryl is an antihistamine and sedative.
Earlier this month, Tracy Fields, the child's mother, filed a wrongful death and product liability lawsuit against Burcham; Pfizer Inc., the New York-based maker of Benadryl; and the Perrigo Co., which makes generic versions of the medicine.
The lawsuit contends Burcham gave the child Benadryl with "willful disregard" for her safety because she wanted to quiet the baby.
Pfizer spokesman Tom Sanford said the company does not recommend people give Benadryl to infants.
Prosecutors said Burcham never told paramedics she had poured three teaspoons of Benadryl into a bottle of breast milk for the child. Burcham later denied it was to control the child's behavior.
The lawsuit seeks more than $15,000 in damages, and also names Clearwater, Florida-based Eckerd Corp., which owns the pharmacy that Fields says sold the medicine to Burcham. Other defendants are Polk County, the Polk County Health Department and the state Department of Children & Families.
DCF spokesman Bill Spann said the agency does not comment on pending litigation, but he urged parents to carefully check the qualifications of day care providers.
Burcham, 53, ran an unlicensed day care center out of her home.
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
