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Maryland Parents Suing Botox Maker for Child's Death
   posted 11:30 pm Thu July 17, 2008 - Charles County, Md.
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The parents of a four-year-old boy from Charles County, Md. are suing the maker of Botox, claiming the popular anti-wrinkle drug killed their child.

The mother hoped Botox would be the key to help her son walk for the first time in his life, but it never happened.

She claims Botox killed her son.

Four-year-old Robbie Boswell was born with cerebral palsy. He couldn't walk and could barely talk. "He was special, just a special little boy," said Joanne Underwood.

Robbie's mother said doctors recommended botox injections. For three years, Robbie got countless shots of botox. Once, his mother said, 23 injections in his hamstrings and the back of his legs and even more after Robbie's surgery last September to help stretch out his muscles.

"The things that they said would happen, it never happened. He couldn't stand. He was in pain." Robbie died a month later. Doctors told the family Robbie had a stroke and pneumonia.

"The computer, I logged on and I had seen where it said FDA warns of botox. Children are dying and there it was."

Robbie's mother and several other families are suing botox maker Allergan for design and manufacturing flaws. The suit also claims Allergan promotes off-label used of botox for treating patients like Robbie with cerebral palsy, which isn't approved by the FDA.

"Had I of known, it would've never happened, but the information was not out there for me or for my family to know."

Allergan would not comment on the lawsuit, but said in a statement, "The current labels for BOTOX and BOTOX Cosmetic provide ample information to health care providers to assist them in making treatment decisions with their patients. Allergan does not promote BOTOX for off label uses."

The pain is still great for Robbie's mother. "He's gone in a split second. I lost my child and I don't know how I can go on without him."
The lawsuit involved 15 people who used botox across the country. Two of those were children who died, including Robbie.

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