Flavored Nitrous Oxide Lawsuit Alleges Amazon Canisters Caused Woman’s Death

After inhaling flavored nitrous oxide daily for months, a mother of three allegedly died from a pulmonary embolism while undergoing rehabilitation.

A wrongful death lawsuit alleges Amazon ignored clear signs that a Georgia woman was purchasing flavored nitrous oxide canisters and inhalation accessories for recreational use, leading to abuse of the gas that resulted in severe neurological injuries and her eventual death.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Christopher Good individually and as the administrator of the estate of his daughter, Rylie Good, as well as the deceased woman’s mother, Elisa Good, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on May 13. It names Amazon.com Services LLC and Amazon.com Inc. as defendants.

The Goods contend that Amazon should have recognized from Rylie’s repeated orders of candy-flavored canisters, masks, tubing and regulator valves that nitrous oxide products distributed through the platform were being used for recreational inhalation. Yet the retailer placed a desire for profits before the health and safety of consumers, by continuing to sell the nitrous oxide gas canisters.

Nitrous Oxide Inhalation Risks

Nitrous oxide is a colorless gas commonly used as an anesthetic in dentistry and medicine, and as a propellant in whipped cream dispensers. Although those uses are lawful, the gas is also widely misused for its brief euphoric effects. Inhaling nitrous oxide can displace oxygen in the body, creating risks that include loss of consciousness, neurological damage and death.

According to a number of recent nitrous oxide lawsuits, certain manufacturers and distributors sell the gas in large canisters with flavors such as cotton candy, blue raspberry and strawberry, which many plaintiffs say have no legitimate culinary purpose and are designed to encourage inhalation rather than food preparation.

These lawsuits allege that companies such as Galaxy Gas, Whip-It!, Miami Magic and others are selling flavored nitrous oxide products despite knowing they are widely misused for recreational inhalation. Many of the Amazon nitrous oxide lawsuits filed to date claim the retailer failed to provide adequate warnings and few safeguards to prevent purchases by individuals seeking to abuse the gas.

Nitrous Oxide Wrongful Death Allegations

According to the complaint, Rylie Good, a mother of three young children, was in her mid-20s when she began buying flavored Galaxy Gas nitrous oxide canisters through Amazon in late 2023. Her parents say the volume and frequency of those purchases, along with orders for masks, tubing and regulator valves, should have made it clear the products were being used for recreational inhalation rather than cooking.

The lawsuit alleges Rylie inhaled nitrous oxide daily for several months before she was hospitalized in December 2023 with severe nerve damage that left her unable to walk without a walker. She later received treatment for vitamin B12 depletion, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive impairment and other neurological injuries, before dying from a pulmonary embolism on May 14, 2024, while undergoing rehabilitation.

Her parents claim Amazon and the other defendants failed to provide adequate warnings or safeguards, despite evidence that customers were using the products to get high. The complaint points to Amazon purchase data, product reviews and related-product recommendations for nozzles and other accessories, which plaintiffs say showed the canisters were being used for inhalation rather than any legitimate culinary purpose.

The Goods argue Rylie’s injuries and death could have been prevented if Amazon had monitored unusually frequent purchases, restricted sales and provided stronger warnings about the risks of hypoxia, nerve damage and death.

“At no time did Defendants adequately instruct Decedent not to inhale nitrous oxide or adequately warn Decedent about the dangers of using nitrous oxide as a recreational drug. Defendants failed to include adequate warnings regarding the risks of inhaling nitrous oxide in the product’s packaging or promotional materials. Defendants also failed to include adequate warnings regarding the risks of inhaling nitrous oxide on the Amazon website and related platforms.”

— Christopher Good et al. v. Amazon.com Services LLC et al.

The lawsuit raises allegations of strict product liability, design defect, failure to warn, negligence and outrage. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Nitrous Oxide Abuse Lawsuits

Manufacturers and distributors are now facing a growing number of nitrous oxide injury lawsuits over canisters allegedly marketed and sold for recreational inhalation. Many of the complaints also name Amazon.com as a defendant, claiming the online marketplace helped make the products widely available despite signs they were being abused.

The lawsuits allege these companies knowingly enabled the unlawful sale of nitrous oxide for non-medical and non-culinary use, even as evidence mounted that customers were buying the canisters to inhale the gas rather than use it for food preparation.

Nitrous oxide injury lawyers are offering free case evaluations to individuals and families who have suffered injuries and may be entitled to financial compensation through a nitrous oxide lawsuit.

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