Amazon Faces Lawsuits Over Suicides Linked to Sodium Nitrite Sales

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The Supreme Court of the State of Washington has ruled that the families and estates of four individuals who died by suicide after ingesting sodium nitrite purchased from Amazon can proceed with litigation against the e-commerce giant. The court stated that as a seller, Amazon has a legal duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid the foreseeable consequences and harm of selling sodium nitrite, and must avoid exposing consumers to any harm from the conduct of a third party.

Why it matters

This ruling highlights the growing concern over the availability of substances like sodium nitrite, which can be misused for suicide, and the responsibility of online retailers to ensure the safety of their products. It raises questions about the balance between consumer freedom and corporate accountability when it comes to the sale of potentially dangerous items.

The details

The plaintiffs alleged that Amazon's website algorithm routed potential buyers to other products that would assist in suicide, such as scales, a suicide instruction book, and products that would 'prevent life-saving vomiting.' Amazon argued that it had 'no duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid the harm of its acts because the danger is obvious or known,' but the court rejected this, stating that whether the act of suicide was a foreseeable consequence is a question of fact for the jury.

• In April 2020, a 19-year-old man died after ingesting sodium nitrite purchased from Amazon.
• In December 2020, an 18-year-old woman and a 27-year-old male also purchased the product from Amazon and died from sodium nitrite poisoning.
• The youngest victim, aged 17, died in May 2021 after consuming the product.

What’s next

The case will now proceed to trial, where a jury will determine whether Amazon's sale of sodium nitrite was a foreseeable cause of the suicide deaths.