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James Torlakson
Father, Artist, Activist
| "I believe that Elizabeth and many others would be alive today had they been given proper warning in regard to these drugs and their dangers." |
James Torlakson is an artist who teaches at San Francisco City College. On March 15, 2004, James’s 21 year-old daughter Elizabeth committed SSRI-antidepressant-induced suicide. Since that time, James has used his artwork and his voice to share her story.
In June, James joined CALPIRG to testify in favor of the Pharmaceutical Drug Right-to-Know Act, which would have required drug companies to tell patients like Elizabeth about the real risks associated with their medicines.
What made you decide to tell Elizabeth’s story?
There are so many families out there suffering through tragedies like this that aren’t ready or able to speak out about what’s happened. I want to speak up for Elizabeth as well as for them. What I have to share, in great part, relates to one patient and one type of drug; but, in principle, applies to all patients and all drugs.
I believe that Elizabeth and many others would be alive today had they been given proper warning in regard to these drugs and their dangers. I don’t believe their deaths were an accident. The pharmaceutical industry knew people like Elizabeth would die.
There is mounting and undeniable evidence that SSRI antidepressants induce high rates of suicide amongst those taking these drugs. Years before Elizabeth’s death, the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry had evidence to this effect, suppressed it, and are still suppressing the full truth.
How would this legislation have helped patients like Elizabeth?
Elizabeth was an extremely health conscious person. When she learned that Serzone, her previous anti-depressant, could cause liver damage, she asked her doctor to switch her to a safer medicine. Her doctor switched her to “safe” Celexa, an SSRI antidepressant. Had Elizabeth and her doctor had complete information about the dangers of Celexa, I don’t believe she would have ever subjected herself to this drug.
What do you hope comes from this activism?
I want legislators and pharmaceutical companies to know that real people are hurt when drug companies suppress negative information about their drugs.
It is well known that the pharmaceutical industry spends millions of dollars in contributions to lawmakers and in lobbying to squelch legislation such as the Pharmaceutical Drug Right-to-Know Act. Why would they do this? If their drugs were as safe and effective as they claim them to be, why would they work so hard to suppress full disclosure of related benefits and risks?
Medical professionals and patients have a right to know the full truth in relation to the benefits and risks of medicines. It is a matter of life and death.
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