Accutane And A Sensational Chicago Murder
14 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // August 20th, 2007 // 11:13 am
The acne med is being blamed for the brutal October 2006 murder of a Chicago dermatologist, David Cornbleet (pictured to the left). He prescribed the med to Hans Peterson, 29, who took Accutane just once or twice and later returned to the doctor’s office, allegedly killing him, according to media reports from Chicago.
An e-mail released by the Peterson family blames Accutane, Roche, the FDA and the doctor for allowing Accutane on the market despite links to suicidal thoughts after Peterson last week turned himself in to French authorities on the island of St. Martin and allegedly confessed to killing Cornbleet. Authorities are trying to extradite him to face murder charges in Illinois, which will be a tricky diplomatic issue because the French are unlikely to extradite Peterson if capital punishment is sought.
The e-mail, which was signed by an anonymous member of the Peterson family and was confirmed as legitimate, according to The Chicago Tribune, contended that Peterson was in a “depressive psychosis” in the summer of 2002 when he was prescribed Accutane after meeting with Cornbleet. In another e-mail, the family member said Peterson took the drug one or two times, but stopped taking it after feeling adverse effects.
You can watch a local TV report about the case by clicking on this link.
For its part, Roche has consistently maintained there’s no scientific evidence to suggest a direct cause-and-effect relationship between Accutane and suicide. Nonetheless, there are at least a couple of dozen lawsuits filed around the country alleging otherwise. However, the Peterson family suggests a link with homicide, a charge that has been raised in connection with the use of some antidepressants. Much remains to be sorted out in the Peterson case, but the high profile may raise the stakes for Roche and companies selling generic Accutane.
Lisa Van Syckel
Important question to ask…..
Was this gentleman on an antidepressant for the treatment of depression,and suffering side effects,so when accutane was prescribed,that the side effect from that drug pushed him over the edge.
hmm……
Melody
there’s no scientific evidence
It amazes me that pharmaceutical companies ALWAYS fall back on this old bromide–there’s no scientific evidence. The only time, obviously, that there IS scientific evidence is when they present cherry-picked information to the FDA as they seek approval to market their products.
As with many things in today’s society, the belief seems to be that if you say it often enough and loudly enough, it becomes the truth. I suppose there is still no scientific evidence that thalidomide caused birth defects or that cigarette smoking causes cancer.
One thing I think is fairly unequivocal: there IS scientific evidence (if scientists would collect it) that pharmaceutical companies cannot be trusted to dispense unvarnished truth.
NC
You guys are ignorant and don’t know the full terrible story behind Roche, the FDA and Dermatologists, This guy was pissed off because Accutane caused him permanent sexual side effects, Accutane has the worst side effect profile of any drug ever approved by the FDA, if you don’t believe me, read the section on it in the newly updated physician’s desk reference. I figured something like this was bound to happen sooner or later, given the horrific side effects of Accutane. In some people accutane causes permanent severe sexual side effects like painful intercourse, It has been acknowledged as a side effect in other countries and It has been reported to the FDA for the past 20 years but they have done nothing to warn people because Roche would lose lots of profits, go here to learn more
http://www.erbook.net/accutane
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/512635,CST-NWS-doctor16.article
http://accutane.poweradvocates.com/index.html
http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/472/Green.html
Friends of Dr David Cornbleet
Put the side effects of accutane aside, nothing justifies murder. Nothing. Hans Peterson had many other options…. he could have seeked help from his dad who is a doctor, or like most normal people, explain the side effects to Dr Cornbleet so he could make the proper adjustment. Even still, he could have sued Dr Cornbleet and/or Roche… but no… he choose a much more evil path. And that choice makes and “here is the reason why” talk nothing more then insignificant banter…
K.Dash
Hans Peterson is a psychopathic killer who took one or two pills 4 years prior to torturing/murdering David Cornbleet MD. He did not even take a course of Accutane-1 or 2 pills only. He murdered him 4 years later. His psychiatric history is typical for paranoid schizophrenics/psychotic depressed young men without any pharmaceuticals. He and his family apparently have a long history of serious psychiatric problems. The real role of Accutane in this instance is likely to be the excuse for him and his family to try to deflect attention from what he did-torture(blowtorch and knives) and kill someone who tried to help him. He did not try to sue the Cornbleets, the drug company or even communicate about any ill effects. His father is a doctor. He surely told him he saw a doctor and was taking medication. ( However, it is strange that after such a serious psychiatric history , he lived so far from his family ) His family is looking for something to “spin” so that he can evade punishment. Read the PDR-every prescription medication even aspirin has many potential or rare side effects. Accutane might cause depression in individuals and certainly can cause birth defects in pregnant females. Butt his is the first time the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde side effect 4 years later has been used outside of fiction!
jason
Do you people think Accutane is first line drug for acne? This is reserved for severe acne. Now I remember when I was young, and those with acne were picked on, they became withdrawn, etc.
He obviously had deep problems. It doesn’t matter if he was on accutane, Tylenol or Prozac. I certainly agree with the friends of the good doctor. It really sounds like from the reports that he was a good and caring doctor that put his patients first. My condolences go out to the friends and family. My prayers are that this cold blooded murderer and psychopath is brought to the USA and swift justice follows.
NC
What happened to David Cornbleet is tragic and he should not have been murdered, BUT, David Cornbleet should not have given Hans Peterson Accutane for his mild acne, PERIOD. It is obvious that everyone here, including K Dash, hasn’t conducted an due-diligence because all of you know absolutely nothing about Accutane. Comparing Aspirin or Tylenol to Accutane is like comparing a BB gun to a Bazooka. Aspirin and Tylenol are over-the-counter pain relievers, Accutane is a powerful chemotherapy drug. I bet that all of you didn’t know that Accutane was originally developed to be a chemotherapy drug back in the 1970’s. During these chemotherapy clinical trials, the doctors began to notice that their cancer patients were having their acne cleared up. This is when all logic and common sense got thrown out the window and Accutane slowly became known as a popular treatment for acne. Chemotherapy drugs by their very definition have the most toxic and deadly side effects of any drugs used in conventional medicine. Accutane is a retinoid. Retinoids are used in chemotherapy to induce cellular differentiation and apoptosis (programmed cell death) Today, Accutane is still used as a chemotherapy drug for leukemia, brain cancer, and pancreatic cancer. But we’re talking about using Accutane as an acne medication, which is insane. Most people rightfully think that acne medications are all safe because acne itself is a benign non-life-threatening condition. This is logically how it’s supposed to be, but Roche, the FDA, and even some dermatologists have done an excellent job of downplaying the dangerous side effects of Accutane and deceiving everybody. The fact that Accutane can cause several different devastating permanent side effects is not up for debate, the FDA admits it in the Physician’s Desk Reference. Before any of you attempt to debate the statements I’ve made above, I strongly suggest that all of you go read the Physician’s Desk Reference, visit the websites I’ve outlined below, and look over all of the evidence so that you can see this killer drug for what it really is. Imagine yourself visiting a doctor looking to treat a few pimples and walking out of the office with a powerful and potentially lethal chemotherapy drug in your possession, this is what happened to Hans Peterson and it permanently damaged his body.
http://www.knowledgeofhealth.com/report.asp?story=Accutane%20a%20modern%20horror%20story&catagory=Drugs,%20Accutane,%20Acne
http://www.accutaneaction.com/
http://www.erbook.net/accutane
http://www.erbook.net/moreqanda–sex_and_loveQ.htm
In this link, scroll down to where it says “Accutane causing vaginal pain and fragilityâ€
http://leda.law.harvard.edu/leda/data/472/Green.html
http://www.house.gov/stupak/accutane.shtml
http://accutane.poweradvocates.com/index.html
jason
FYI - no one in medicine - that actually practices it, not tells people about their limited knowledge - gives a hoot about the PDR. There are much better resources available. Did the murderer have vaginal pain, is that what you are trying to tell me? I was pretty sure it was a guy, and he WILLING TOOK THE MEDICATION. He went for help and was given help. If the doc didn’t explain the side effects, the pharmacists should have. Or the patient should have taken responsibility for what he is putting in his body. He also willingly took a life, and I sincerely hope justice is swiftly served.
Again, get educated, find a new reference, and stop trying to defend sociopaths. Even if it caused his winkie to fall off, if that justifies taking a life we are on completely different sides of the conversation. The doc didn’t give him anything to try to hurt him, I wish we could say the same for the patient.
Lisa Van Syckel
Hi Jason,
It has been reported that this man has a history of mental illness, so I will ask the more important question…..
Where the hell was his Psyciatrist,and why wasnt he being monitored?…..
derm doc
nc
Who the hell are you ? Do you have access to the medical records to determine the severity of Mr. Peterson’s acne. Sounds like you have some agenda. Are you one of those ambulance chasing attorneys?
Hmmm
derm doc,
“NC” is most likely Han’s father…the same kind of crap trying to justify what he did has been posted on alot of blogs online. Dad is just as crazy as son to believe 4 pills led to this…
SLS
I have been a derm nurse for 7 years and Accutane is a wonderful medication when monitored properly with any patient. It is a last course for most patients…I think it is funny how the off-the-street doctors find thereselves complaning about this medication. I just want to ask the What Medical School Did You Go To? Because you do not know what you are talking about. Accutane is monitored very tightly by the FDA and Ipledge program and each patient male or female have to sign consent forms and go through counseling before they are given the medication. This is the law! This murdered would have been given the booklet that states each side effect and inital by each paragraph before the doc would have been allowed to prescribe Accutane or the pharmacist allowed to fill it. Some people just need to do their research before they start talking because obviously “some people” dont know what they are talking about! This young man obviously had some type of problem but I think it is absolutly horrible that he is taking advantage of the french goverment the way he is…he knew what he was doing…and he is a murderer. My sympothy goes to the doctors family.
SLS
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Melanie
Peterson was an anti-social psychotic depressive long before and long after he took one or two accutane pills. He and his negligent mentally ill father blames a random pill on Peterson’s life-long pychosis.
Peterson’s negligent father allowed his psychotic depressive son to roam around without being propertly monitored or medicated. Peterson should have been in a psych ward, or at least in his parents’ home, during his paranoid episodes.
As soon as Peterson began hyperfocusing on a random pill and on a random doctor as the focus for his paranoid delusions, his family should have brought him home, committed him, or at least closely monitored him with medications, ensuring he was taking his anti-depressive anti-psychosis medications.
Peterson could just as easily have focused on any number of other medications he has taken in his life, because all carry side-effect risks. His paranoid delusion just happened to focus on this poor innocent doctor.
And by the way, as far as the “sexual Side-effects” of accutane, Peterson was an anti-social loner who had never had a relationship, so even a short period of sexual side-effects after taking accutane would not have affected him, since he had not been in a relationship. And also, many other antidepressants and antipsychotic meds, if not all, that peterson was or should have been on have sexual side-effects.
The interviews with peterson’s father shows exactly how Psychiatric illness is HEREDITARY, because his father is obviously a nut, a loon, who himself needs to be medicated and taken off the streets.