Press Release Summary = Recent observations conclude that the verdicts regarding the Vioxx cases are apparent examples of the way the United State's "civil justice system" works to safeguard the people's legal rights. Nowadays, even the biggest and most prosperous corporations apparently liable for bottom line services can be sued for damages when they put the public's health and safety at risk.
Press Release Body = Recent observations conclude that the verdicts regarding the Vioxx cases are apparent examples of the way the United State's "civil justice system" works to safeguard the people's legal rights. Nowadays, even the biggest and most prosperous corporations apparently liable for bottom line services can be sued for damages when they put the public's health and safety at risk.
Los Angeles, California, May 29, 2007 - In his testimony in front of the U.S. Congress regarding the Vioxx case, David Graham said that the Vioxx drug have played a major part in the demise of 55,000 American. Graham is one of the resident scientists of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Furthermore, Graham said that Merck, the corporation who manufactured Vioxx was aware that they have put an unsafe and potentially deadly drug on the food and drug market. For this issue, alone, they are legally responsible.
As early as the year 1997, it was found through internal documents of Merck that the company was already encountering problems with Vioxx. These 1997 documents indicated that they were already alerted about the health risks caused by Vioxx.
In fact, the top scientist of the company stated in March 2000 that a clinical trial of Vioxx confirmed that the drug does have hazardous effect to the patients' heart. Even knowing these potential dangerous threats to the health and safety of the public who will use Vioxx, Merck continued with its aggressive marketing of the drug.
The result was that Vioxx became a bestseller and Merck made billions for it.
Still conscious of its deception, Merck also trained their drug representatives to avoid doctor's questions about the drug's safety. This is a testament of the company's negligence and total absence of concern for the well-being of the public, particularly its customers.
In addition, the company also underestimated the dangerous effect of Vioxx through a misleading letter to some doctors in 2001. The company itself produced a game called "dodge ball," to instruct its pharmaceutical representatives on avoiding the tough questions concerning their bestseller drug.
Once the doctors failed to be put off by the said tactic, Merck's internal documents turned out that the company goes to work in discrediting the doctors who continued questioning the effects of Vioxx.
These tactics of the Merck's CEO was obviously leaning towards the sales promotion of the drug instead of giving more attention to improving the product so that it would be safe for the users.
The jurors in the Vioxx trials have given this clear message to the company. They have even noted that the punitive damages they have awarded to victims that reach up to $229 million is not a figure they have come up with randomly. This amount was what Merck officials have projected the company may save by delaying to change the warning label of the drug.
During the last five years, Merck has spent more than $30 million lobbying to the U.S. Congress a legislation regarding medical malpractice that would obviously keep the pharmaceutical companies from being liable in cases such as the Vioxx case. The reason for this became apparent.
If the bill have become law, it would have been impossible for the victims of Vioxx to sue the company due to the deadly effects of the drug.
The conclusions drawn by the nationwide Vioxx phenomenon: since the pharmaceutical companies could not care more for the welfare of its consumers and Washington cannot find reason to hold them responsible, then the victims and survivors of those who were killed because of the drug's effect must pursue their cases in the courts.
Mesriani Law Group, Los Angeles Lawyers - Our attorneys work on helping clients receive restitution for financial resources expended by them in an effort to make their lives normal again, in the aftermath of tragic accidents and events. We help in restoring our clients´ peace of mind by attaining large settlements and verdicts for them in a court of law. For more information please log on to www.mesrianilaw.com
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