The Hartman Lawsuit

Phil Hartman's life came to a tragic end one May night in 1998 when his wife shot him and herself to death. According to neighbors, the couple had been known to have problems, but friends and family were shocked by Brynn Hartman's violent act. What could have led Hartman's wife to commit murder and suicide?

According to the executor of Hartman's estate, Zoloft manufacturer Pfizer Inc. and Brynn Hartman's psychiatrist, Arthur Sorosky, are at fault for Hartman's death. The executor, Gregory Omdahl, Brynn Hartman's brother, has filed a wrongful death suit against Pfizer and Sorosky. The suit alleges that Sorosky did not properly warn Mrs. Hartman of the potential for violent and suicidal side effects of Zoloft and that Pfizer has not properly reported such side effects to the public.

According to E! Online News, toxicology reports found cocaine, alcohol and Zoloft in Brynn Hartman's system after her death. The tests showed that Mrs. Hartman had used cocaine within five hours of her death, and her blood alcohol level was .12 percent. The Zoloft was shown to be at "therapeutic levels."

Large amounts of cocaine may lead to "bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior," according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Long-term use of cocaine (whether in small or large amounts) can lead to a "full-blown paranoid psychosis, in which the individual loses touch with reality and experiences auditory hallucinations," states the NIDA.

For those who haven't heard, alcohol consumption may "promote aggressiveness," states the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). According to the NIAAA, alcohol "weakens brain mechanisms that normally restrain impulsive behaviors, including inappropriate aggression;" however, aggression generally does not increase unless the person consuming alcohol feels "threatened or provoked." The NIAAA also reports on one study which finds 42 percent of reported violent crimes involve alcohol.

Possible adverse reactions of Zoloft may be found in Pfizer's own U.S. Prescribing Information. Clinical trials of Zoloft during premarketing assessment found "aggressive reaction" to be an "infrequent" side effect (occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients) and "suicide ideation" to be a "rare" side effect (occurring in 1/1000 patients). Pfizer's prescribing information also tells physicians to warn patients that "the concomitant use of Zoloft and alcohol is not advised."

Is it possible to conclude whether or not the Zoloft caused Brynn Hartman's violent and suicidal behavior? Should Pfizer (and other pharmaceutical companies) make the public more aware of all infrequent and rare side effects of a medication? (And, if so, how can they do this?) Is Mrs. Hartman's psychiatrist responsible for her violent behavior if he didn't warn her of the possible side effects? How about if he didn't warn her not to consume alcohol? Should either Pfizer or Sorosky be held responsible when Mrs. Hartman was consuming an illegal drug with unpredictable side effects?

Countless people with depressive and anxiety disorders have been helped by antidepressants, such as Zoloft. It is impossible to know how the Hartman lawsuit may affect the reputation of antidepressants. However, as many people already feel compelled to hide the use of psychiatric medication from friends, family and employers, imagine how it might be if antidepressants were generally thought to cause violent behavior. Even if the Hartman estate loses, general perception of psychiatric medication (and, perhaps, psychiatric disorders themselves) may be damaged.