Saundersblog.com - August 2005 Archives

August 2005

Merck May Settle Some Vioxx Suits (16:55) - In an abrupt turnaround from its previous stance, Merck & Co. spokesman Kent Jarrell told the Associated Press today that it might consider settling some of its lawsuits. However, the company continues to insist it won't enter into any type... | 0 Comments

Analyst Sees Vioxx Liability at $10 billion (11:22) - According to a Bloomberg News report published today, Credit Suisse First Boston business analyst Catherine Arnold doubled her liability estimate for Merck & Co. to $10 billion. Merck is appealing last week's jury verdict in Texas that awarded Robert Ernst's... | 0 Comments

Vioxx's Bad Facts (09:15) - In today's NY Times there's a story discussing the reason(s) why Merck lost its first Vioxx trial. The story concludes Merck lost because of bad facts. Jurors got to see a mountain of documents and email messages that showed how... | 0 Comments

My Thoughts On the Vioxx Verdict (20:25) - The size of the first Vioxx verdict ($259 Million) against Merck is an indication that juries in other cases will be angry at Merck when they hear the evidence of the company's wrongdoing. The core evidence presented in the Ernst... | 0 Comments

Merck Ordered to Pay for Death Caused by Vioxx (09:10) - Merck & Co. was found negligent in the death of a 59 year old triathlete who used Vioxx. The jury awarded the man's widow $24 million in actual damages and $229 million in "exemplary" or punitive damages for a total... | 0 Comments

More Allegations Against Fr. Richard Emerson (12:00) - In spite of their protestations to the contrary, the Diocese of Gary in Indiana told parishioners this past Sunday that there are more sexual abuse allegations against Fr. Richard Emerson, who abused one of my clients while stationed in Orlando... | 0 Comments
Open Letter to Bishop Ricard (01:18) - I want to share with you a letter I sent today to the Bishop of Pensacola Tallahassee in Florida: Most Rev. John H. Ricard SSJ Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee Monsignor James Amos Pastoral Center 11 North B St. Pensacola, FL 32501... | 0 Trackbacks | 0 Comments

In Spite of Dangers, Drug Firms Raise Prices (07:00) - In spite of problems, drug companies have raised their prices almost 13% since 2003. The first half of this year, they've raised prices about 5.5%. As a response to impending Medicaid reform, drug companies have raised their prices, when greater... | 0 Comments
FDA Will Review Drug Ads (01:13) - At a time when the pharmaceutical industry has come under fire for its advertising to consumers, the FDA has decided to step in and review drug ads. The last guidelines were set in 1997 and are in dire need of... | 0 Comments
Celebrex Gets "Black Box" label from FDA (01:07) - The FDA has finalized a new label for the drug Celebrex warning of increased cardiovascular risks such as heart attacks and strokes. The new label on Celebrex will recommend the drug be prescribed at the lowest dose and shortest time... | 0 Comments
Hypocrisy or Hippocratic Oath? You Decide (00:22) - Today's Wall St. Journal's front page featured a surgeon who has opened his own surgical center in Rapid City, South Dakota. When asked why he opened it, he responded, "Profit, profit, profit." Dr. Larry Teuber has unabashedly claimed that he... | 0 Comments

Auto Safety Initiatives Part of Latest Transportation Bill (22:28) - Sweeping auto safety initiatives included in a transportation bill passed by Congress on Friday make it the most comprehensive traffic safety legislation in years. Congress is ordering the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to impose a number of more stringent... | 0 Comments
Vioxx Manufacturer Suffers Setback in Trial (22:17) - Yesterday, jurors heard videotaped testimony from the pathologist who said that the death Robert Ernst, a 59 year old triathlete taking the painkiller Vioxx was more than likely caused by a heart attack, damaging Merck's defense in the first Vioxx... | 0 Comments

New England Journal of Medicine: Hospitals Neglecting Lifesaving Treatments (07:00) - In a report published early last month, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that many hospitals across the country neglected to provide their patients with life saving treatments, even when the treatments were basic. For instance, even though just... | 0 Comments
Church's Inconsistent Mea Culpa (06:38) - Last year, Cardinal Keeler of Baltimore and a dozen priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore knelt before 100 parishioners at a Maryland church in a public act of atonement for what some of their fellow priests had done to young... | 0 Comments