Tennessee

Janet Huggins
Knoxville, TN

Janet Huggins suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away on September 25, 2004 at the age of 39. She had been taking Vioxx for about one month prior to her death, which was proscribed by her doctors because she had an early onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

Janet was in great shape with no history of heart problems and was very involved in her work as a project scheduler for businesses like the Cleveland Brown Stadium.

In testimony before Congress, her husband Monty said that "My wife was an amazing human being and a wonderful mother to her 9-year-old son. We both miss her very much. Her death has impacted our lives in so many ways."

The morning Monty was getting ready for Janet's funeral is the same morning they pulled Vioxx from themarket. Monty said, "If they had pulled this deadly drug from the market even six to eight weeks earlier, my wife would still be alive today."

Read Monty Huggins' full testimony about his wife's death and legislative efforts to protect companies like Merck, the maker of Vioxx, from being held accountable.

February 2005