Boom in Drug Litigation Shows Need for Reform
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Regarding “State Vioxx Trial Is Set as Drug Suits Boom,” June 27:
There’s no question that this litigation boom is being fueled by personal injury lawyers.
We’ve seen it with the recent asbestosis, silicosis and fen-phen litigation, in which greedy lawyers brought about questionable claims, so-called expert witnesses said anything for the right price and plaintiffs filed lawsuits without experiencing injury -- all in an attempt to cash in on drug companies’ deep pockets.
These manufactured lawsuits can literally make people sick in that they are based on bogus research and junk science, which can scare patients off their medications, against the advice of their doctors.
Unless we take measures to reform our legal system, money-hungry personal injury lawyers will continue to use junk science to prop up frivolous and questionable healthcare lawsuits that frighten consumers, drive up healthcare costs, limit medical research and innovation and take money away from legitimate victims.
Peter Bylsma
Executive director
Los Angeles Citizens
Against Lawsuit Abuse
Los Angeles
*
The Times’ coverage of the start of the California Vioxx trials misses one of the most obvious solutions when it comes to dealing with dangerous or ineffective medicines on the market:
Drug companies should be required to tell doctors and the public about all of the clinical trials done on their drugs -- good and bad. Not only could this information inoculate companies against future litigation, but it also could prevent tragedies like Vioxx.
The Legislature recently passed up the chance to enact a bill that would do just that. But with some strong legislative leadership, the issue could come back in August. For the sake of Californians’ health, it should.
Allowing doctors and patients to have complete information about the safety and effectiveness of medicines isn’t just good business -- it’s good medicine.
Emily Clayton
Healthcare advocate
California Public Interest
Research Group
San Francisco
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