Big pharma's may escape all legal liability for side effects including Death...

It seems that the pharmaceutical industry is seeking a blanket immunity for all drug side effects and deaths...

I cam across this articlie / news story which definately raises some concerns and if the source is correct in its reporting, then it means that if the FDA provides approval of a drug then the pharmaceutical company is absolved of any responsibility if that drug later turns out to be dangerous - even if the information was concealed from the FDA during the approval process...

Drug companies are using the pre-emption argument as a legal defense in a wide variety of lawsuits, and the Supreme Court is expected to hear such a case, concerning the company Wyeth, in the fall. Before that, however, a lower federal court is expected to rule on whether pre-emption can be used to dismiss lawsuits by more than 3,000 women who claim that they were injured by using Johnson & Johnson's OrthoEvra birth control patch according to the instructions on the label.

News Source

*bump*

i would have thought that a Supreme Court case which effectively decided whether a pharmaceutical company would get a blank cheque from the government would have had a bit more interest. Ultimately the Wyeth vs. Levine case is about the general public being able to protect their interests & themselves against a corporate entity.

If the ruling goes in their favour then pretty much a pharmaceutical company could cover up the risks of their product whilst being approved by the FDA. once the FDA gives them the mandatory rubber stamp, it won't matter if it turns out that the company lied, covered up, or just plain ignored the risks associated with the medicine. It will be a get out of jail card with the victims being left high and dry.

Supreme Court Wiki Link to Wyeth v. Levine