Vioxx victims right to be taken away soon
If you have been surprised by the ferocity with which Merck has been attacking Vioxx victims, there is no need to. Merck appears more confident than ever that it will prevail in the Vioxx litigation and it does not have to apologize for Vioxx related deaths and injuries. As everyone knows, the FDA has been the best friend for Merck. From day one, FDA, which should control the drug industry, has actually come to the rescue of Merck. Now the White House is openly supporting the position taken by Merck. It may be pointed out that the Merck CEO Raymond Gilmartin (along with many others at Merck and in the pharmaceutical industry in general) has contributed enormous sums of money for President Bush and many others in Republican Party, all of whom hold important positions in the administration.
A panel discussion that was held as part of the economic summit showed where the focus is - to take away the right of American people to file a lawsuit if a loved one gets killed by a faulty product or if someone is injured. Once this legislation is passed, Americans will literally have their rights taken away so that big corporations can do business profitably even if their products kill Americans. (Related article: Merck critic may lose his job at FDA)
The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan group that tracks campaign spenders, found that conference participants at the White House donated nearly $195,000 to various Republican candidates or causes in recent years, including $40,000 to Bush. All participants were business owners or chief executives (for instance, Robert Nardelli, the CEO of Home Depot and a supporter of President Bush mounted a harsh attack on Americans who have been hurt by a company and try to receive compensation) and support President Bush. No consumer rights groups or lawyers were invited to the panel.
The President, who thinks that Americans hurt by a faulty product think of asking for compensation for their pain and suffering as a lottery, said, "...this is a priority issue for not only me, but for a lot of people in the Senate. I say the Senate -- it will pass the House. It is being blocked by a few in the United States Senate, and the trial bar has made this the number one issue for them. But it's, as I think you mentioned, Hilda, the notion of a lottery -- we cannot have the legal system to be a legal lottery....I intend to take a legislative package to Congress which says we expect the House and the Senate to pass meaningful liability reform on asbestos, on class action and medical liability." He was referring to passing of Class Action Reform Act that will make it almost impossible for Vioxx class action lawsuits to go forward. No wonder Merck seems so confident that it has not made provision for even one dollar for Vioxx litigation in its financial projections. (Related article: Merck continues its attack on Vioxx victims to shore up its stock price)
Medical errors kill as many as 98,000 Americans every year and cost as much as $29 billion, according to the Institute of Medicine. Other research suggests that the human toll may be far higher, with preventable errors and negligence taking the lives of 195,000 people each year. While exact estimates are not known but tens of thousands of Americans are presumed to have died due to Vioxx alone. (Related article: Vioxx death toll higher than Iraq war and 9/11)
"He unashamedly advocates legislation that would protect insurance industry profits and prohibit any punishment for the makers of dangerous drugs like Vioxx, while penalizing your mother for being abused in a nursing home or your daughter for having her baby killed by medical malpractice," says Todd A. Smith President, Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He continues, "Give us a break, Mr. President. Giving your friends in the insurance, drug, tobacco, chemical and other industries another windfall at the expense of American families is not an economic recovery plan." The Center for Justice & Democracy responded, "President Bush should stop putting corporate profits and special interests before the lives of average Americans, who will die under his proposals."
Recommended article: How to find a good Vioxx attorney?
