SHEA & HEATHER NEWS ARCHIVE
Below you will find a collection of news reports about the death of ShEA McCarthy and subsequent legal action taken by his mother, heather mccarthy.
After shEA’s death, Heather pursued an eight-year legal case alleging medical malpractice of the mental health treatment providers in the wrongful death of her son.
PUBLISHED AUGUST 13, 2022
Heather McCarthy — Antibiotics/Suicide Link (“American Medicine Today” on NewsRadio WFLA)
“A new report filed with the FDA has linked a growing number of suicide deaths to two different antibiotics used to treat serious infections, and joining us to discuss is Heather McCarthy, an Indiana-based attorney whose son Shea died after taking the Johnson & Johnson drug Levaquin.”
published February 28, 2022
New push for change as growing number of suicides linked to popular antibiotics (WRTV)
INDIANAPOLIS — A new push is underway to address potentially deadly side effects, including suicide, from popular antibiotics on the market.
Families and advocates say suicide is a growing concern for medications known as fluoroquinolones, sold under names like Cipro and Levaquin, that are typically used to treat severe infections like pneumonia.
Heather McCarthy of Gary, Indiana blames the drug Levaquin for her son Shea’s 2013 death.
Shea, a Purdue University student, was agitated and suffering mental health side effects from taking the antibiotic Levaquin when he crashed his car into a cement embankment, Heather said.
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 23, 2022
Mother Whose Son Died After Being Prescribed Levaquin Forced FDA to Add Warning Label (CHD.TV)
On an episode of CHD.TV’s “Doctors and Scientists,” Heather McCarthy spoke out against the incentivization of medical treatment by the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA), lack of informed consent and the irresponsible over-medication of her son by his medical providers.
McCarthy, a practicing attorney with advanced degrees in English literature and business administration, told host Brian Hooker, Ph.D., about the tragic loss of her son, which she said stemmed from irreversible adverse effects caused by the prescription drug, Levaquin.
McCarthy described her son, O’Shea, as a young man who “studied science at Purdue” and “loved to play and produce music.”
Published february 10, 2022
“Doctors & Scientists” Episode 17: “He Couldn’t Even Function”: Highly-Medicated Son Passes Away — Mother Speaks Up
In this week's “Doctors & Scientists,” host Brian Hooker, Ph.D., is joined by Heather McCarthy who tells her son's devastating story. After being put on high doses of conventional medicine, Heather's son began to spiral downward. This mother brings up the importance of informed consent, the significance of the patient-doctor relationship and the value of looking at treatment as a potential culprit of the symptoms.
Published Dec 12, 2021
“Akathisia Stories” Episode 11: Heather McCarthy
In this episode, we hear from Heather McCarthy, mother of O'Shea McCarthy, known as Shea, who was born in December of 1988. Visit the “Akathisia Stories” main page.
published SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
Indiana mother's fight for drug label change hits snag after FDA denies petition (WRTV)
LAKE COUNTY — An Indiana mother’s fight for more stringent warnings on popular antibiotics has hit yet another roadblock after the FDA denied a request for more label changes.
Heather McCarthy’s son Shea, a Purdue University student, died in 2013 after taking Levaquin— an antibiotic known as a fluoroquinolone.
Shea was suffering mental health side effects from taking the drug, according to his mother, and died after he crashed his car into a cement embankment.
“He knew that this drug had affected him, and no one chose to listen to him,” said McCarthy. “Shea will always be missed by myself, his friends and his other family members. That's why I think this was so important."
Published july 3, 2019
Mom pushes for psychiatric black box warning on antibiotic after Purdue student’s death (WRTV)
INDIANAPOLIS — A new effort is underway to change the labels on commonly prescribed antibiotics called fluoroquinolones following the death of a Purdue University student.
The drugs are typically prescribed to treat serious infections like pneumonia, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now says the drugs should not be used to treat common infections like bronchitis, UTIs or sinusitis.
Shea McCarthy, a Purdue student, took the antibiotic Levaquin to prevent an infection following surgery to fix a deviated septum.
Shea died in 2013 after he jumped out of a second story window and crashed his car into a cement embankment.
JULY 17, 2018
Drug maker stopped making popular antibiotic Levaquin amid concerns about mental health side effects (WRTV)
INDIANAPOLIS— The makers of a popular antibiotic have halted production on the drug amid safety concerns.
Janssen pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson discontinued production of Levaquin in December 2017, including the oral and IV versions.
However, Levaquin may still be available in pharmacies until 2020.
Purdue University student Shea McCarty died in 2013 after jumping out of a second story window and crashing his car into a cement embankment.
His mother, Heather McCarthy, said Shea was agitated and suffering mental health side effects from taking the antibiotic Levaquin.
PUBLISHED JulY 16, 2018
FDA warns of antibiotics' mental health risks years after Purdue University student's death (ABC Action News)
INDIANAPOLIS— The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requiring drug label changes for commonly prescribed antibiotics, including more prominent and consistent warnings for mental health side effects.
For several years, WRTV has been looking into potential safety issues and concerning side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics sold under brand names like Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox.
Purdue University student Shea McCarty died in 2013 after jumping out of a second story window and crashing his car into a cement embankment.
His mother, Heather McCarthy, said Shea was agitated and suffering mental health side effects from taking the antibiotic Levaquin.