A Missouri jury has awarded Margo Gill nearly $495 million after determining that the baby formula provided by Abbott Laboratories caused her premature daughter to suffer serious injuries.
The verdict included $95 million in compensatory damages and $400 million in punitive damages.
Gill’s lawsuit claimed that her daughter, identified as R.D., developed necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) after being fed Similac baby formula at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
NEC is a severe intestinal inflammation common among premature infants. Following her diagnosis, R.D. required extensive surgery.
The lawsuit argued that the hospital staff should have provided human-based breastmilk instead of formula, citing studies and recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The jury found Abbott negligent and responsible for misrepresenting its product.
In response, Abbott spokesman Scott Stoffel stated that the company strongly disagrees with the verdict, asserting that no scientific evidence links their preterm infant products to NEC.
He stated that specialized formulas are standard care for feeding premature infants when mother’s milk or donor milk is unavailable.
The AAP released a statement highlighting the complexity of NEC’s causes and warning that lawsuits could jeopardize the availability of cow milk-based formulas.
AAP President Dr. Benjamin Hoffman advocated for policies that expand access to pasteurized human donor milk and support for milk banks, noting the critical role formula plays in providing nutrition to premature infants.
The case underscores ongoing debates about infant nutrition, legal accountability, and healthcare practices, emphasizing the need for balanced approaches to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable newborns.
