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Fla. Woman Sues Over Baby's Overdose
December 21, 2003 10:45 PM EST
BARTOW, Fla. - 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 allegedly 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. The antihistamine
and sedative is commonly used as a cough suppressant, a sleeping aid and in other medicines.
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 behavior.
The lawsuit seeks more than $15,000 in damages, and also names Clearwater-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.
December 21, 2003 10:45 PM EST
BARTOW, Fla. - 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 allegedly 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. The antihistamine
and sedative is commonly used as a cough suppressant, a sleeping aid and in other medicines.
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 behavior.
The lawsuit seeks more than $15,000 in damages, and also names Clearwater-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.