Jury Awards Mother $5.6 Million After Son's Death In Clinical Drug Trial

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Leo Liu hoped that enrolling in a clinical trial for an anti-psychotic drug in 2009 would help his schizophrenia.

But just three days after receiving his first injection of the drug made by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Johnson & Johnson, Liu died.

His mother, Marion Liu, has been suffering ever since.

On Oct. 16, a jury rule in her favor in a negligence lawsuit -- awarding her $5.6 million.

"When you lose a child, it's like a part of you is being ripped out," Liu said.

The settlement has done little to stop Liu from questioning the series of events that led to her son's death.

For one, Leo's doctor had him sign a 22-page consent form -- something his mother says he was not in a position to do with a clear mind.

What's more, Janssen's internal screening -- taken just a week before Leo's death -- showed that he had an abnormal heart condition.

Yet another problem, Liu said, is that Leo's doctor received thousands of dollars for enrolling patients in the drug trial.

"They need to do some changes in how they go about recruiting these patients, especially those who are schizophrenic, bi-polar and mentally ill," Liu said. "Don't use them as guinea pigs."