Sponsored Cases / Kurt danysh

Sponsored Cases

The Juvenile Justice Foundation in its efforts are currently sponsoring two cases with the issue of SSRI's and Homicide.

Kurt Danysh

April 26,1996

Kurt confesses to shooting his father.He can provide no reason for the shooting,except to deccrobe the violent behavior he has exhibited since being prescribed PROZAC Thirteen days eariler.Kurt describes slapping his girlfriend, getting into a fight with his bestfriend, and purposely crashing his truck into a stone wall hours before the shooting.

After disabling his truck, Kurt wrote bizzare messages on his broken windshield with permanment marker.Kurt describes these messages as a physical representation of what it was like inside of his head at the time.

April 29,1996

Investigatiors contact Eli Lily Corporation, the manufacturers of PROZAC, with regards to obtaining information concerning the effects of PROZAC.The investigator is referredto an attorney, not a researcher or a doctor, who states that "the subject medication would not cause aggressive behavior"

July 5,1996

A psychiatrist, employed by the prosecution, issues a report stating" Numerous well contolled studies have been done toinvestigate the potiential for PROZAC contributing to violent behavior and these studies have not shown any valid correlation between the use of PROZAC and violent behavior"

February 7,1997

During a court hearing, witnesses decribe Kurt's violent behavioral changes while taking PROZAC.

October 9,1997

Kurts attorney Mr.Ackourey meets with Kurt at the county jail where Kurt has been incarcerated for 18 months. During this meeting Mr.Ackourey informs Kurt that there is no evidence avalable to support the claims that PROZAC could cause violent behavior and that Kurt should plead guilty to third degree murder. Kurt refuses.

Mr. Ackourey produces graphic crime scene photograhics. These photographics include images of Kurts fathers body at the scene of the crime and during autopsy. Kurt is left alone ina room with these images. When Mr. Ackourey returns, Kurt is sobbing. Mr. Ackourey informs Kurt that if he refuses to plead guilty his family will be forced to view these images at trial and that the only way he can aviod causing them the pain would be to plead guilty.

Kurt agrees to plead guilty and is immediately driven to the courthouse to enter a formal guilty plea.

In spite of being informed that Kurt is under the influence of two major tranquilizers (usually prescribed to schizophrenicpatients) , Kurts plea is accepted by the court.

November 20,1997

During his sentencing hearing, Kurt is permitted to address the court and his family. He uses the opportunity to express his remorse and apolizies to his family. He also holds steadfast to his assertion that he was not in control on the day of the shooting. He states "If I was in control that day , it would never have happened ". Kurt is sentenced to 22.5 to 60 years years in a maximum security prison.

April 20,2003

Kurt recieves an expert opinion from Daniel H. Marks,MD,PHD, informimg him that PORZAC can cause violent behavior, Dr. Marks also indicates that ELI LILY's statement to investigators and the report from the prosecutor's psychiatrists "are inaccurate statements and go against a wide body of scientific literature to the contrary.

May 23, 2003

Kurt files an appeal, Pro se, alleging newly discovered evidence, unlawfully induced guilty plea, and ineffective assistance of counsel.

July 22,2003

The same judge who sentenced Kurt to 22.5 to 60 years in prison denies Kurt's appel as "untimely" The court futher opines that a " Prozac defense " does not exist in the Commonwealth"

August 19,2003

The Supreme court of Pennsylvania notes that the defense of involuntary intoxication is available where " unexpected intoxication results from a medically prescribed drug" Commonwealth V Smith 831A 2d 636 (Pa. Super 2003)

February 2,2004

The FDA orders an advisory committee to hold a hearing to investigate the effectiveness and possibile dangers associated with antidepressants drugs. Committee member, Jean Bronstrin concludes " I am seeing ( antidepressnats ) as an apparent link to either homicideal or suicidal behavior from the testimony this morning and from what I have read as well.

March 22,2004

FDA issues a Public Health Advisory, cautioning that antidepressants can cause "anxiety, agitation , panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, impulsivity,akathisia, ( severe restlessness ) Hypomania and mania in patients.

May 27, 2004

A study, entitled "suicidality, violence and mania caused by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI's ) . A review and analysis is published in the international journal od Risk & Safety in Medicine which reports that SSRI's, including PROZAC can cause violence, suicide, mania and other forms of psychotic and bizarre behavior in some patients.

October 15,2004

The FDA orders pharmaceutical companies to add a "BLACK BOX WARNING" to antidepressants, saying these drugs could cause suicidal thinking and behavior and other unusual changes in behavior in children and teenagers. Thw agency also directs the manufacturers to print and distribute medication guides with every antidepressant prescription and to inform patients of the following risks;

acting aggressive, being angry or violent

acting on dangerous impulses

new or worse irritability

thought about suicide or dying

attempts to commit suicide

other unusual changes in behavior

August 19,2005

The Commission of the Europen Communities,representing 25 countries, issues its decision to endorse and issue the strongest yet against child antidepressany use as recommended by the Europe's Committee for Medicial Products for Human Use.( CHMP )

This follows a review of clinical trials that shoed the drugs cause suicidal behavior including suicide attempts and suicideal ideation, aggession, hostility and / or related behavior.

September ,2006

A study entitled " antidepressants and Violence ; Problems at the interface of Medicine and Law , is published in the Public Library of Science (PLOS ) which reports that in addition to self - harm, antidepressants can also cause prople to become violent and homicidal.

May 2,2007

FDA revises its "BLACK BOX " warning and medication guide to include young adults (18 to 24 years old ).

The Juvenile Justice Foundation as a sponsor to Kurt Danysh will continue in it's efforts to help Kurt gain attention to his case

and seek out any assistance available .

During Kurts 10 years of his incarceration , Kurt has earned many educational achievements, Getting his GED and moving on to recieving his degree in paralegal.

Because of Kurts outstanding record while incarcerated he also applied and recieved a full 4 year college schlarship, and is on his way in earning another degree.

Through Kurts 10 years of incarceration he has remained committed to the fact, that if it were not for the drugs , his father would be alive today.

As we fight for the truth still in 2008 , for truthful clinical trials and medication guide inserts for patient / parents , we also must fight for our judical laws to be changed when it comes to first offenders, mandatory sentencing and to insure all circumstances involved be migating factors in a case especially when it involves dangers psychotic drugs.

As we fight for the truth still in 2008 , for truthful clinical trials and medication guide inserts for patient / parents we also must fight for our judical laws to be changed when it comes to first offenders, mandatory sentencing and to insure all circumstances involved be migating factors in a case especially when it involves dangers psychotic drugs.