Author Archives:

Vioxx Whistleblower Blasts FDA

Katie Merx of the Detroit Free Press writes: The FDA whistleblower who turned a public light on the dangers of pain medication Vioxx, told an Ann Arbor audience on Friday that the government needs to restructure the agency or more Americans will die. Dr. David Graham is a scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug…

Italians Want Their Cut of the Vioxx Settlements

The AP is reporting that a group of Italians has filed a class action suit in the United States today, seeking damages against the US Healthcare conglomerate Merck, makers of Vioxx painkiller. The Associated Press reports: Kenneth B- Moll, an American lawyer who is helping file the complaint in Louisiana, said that 18 Italians are…

Uninsured Billing Class Action Suit (Christian Health, Dallas, etc)

Jeff over at HIPAA Blog writes: A strong statement on the Uninsured Billing Class Action Suits: a Federal judge in Beaumont, Texas threw out one of the suits (not a Scruggs suit, though) with a strong, strong statement. As stated in Modern Healthcare’s daily emails: “A judge dismissed a federal lawsuit over uninsured-patient billing against…

Auto Workers Union Backs U.S. Asbestos Fund Plan

Reuters is reporting that the Auto Workers Union is backing a proposal for an asbestos fund: WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A plan to create a $140 billion asbestos compensation fund picked up an important labor endorsement on Wednesday from the United Auto Workers, one of the largest labor unions in North America. The UAW’s legislative director…

Asbestos Still a Major Concern in Australian Schools

Think the asbestos problem is going away anytime soon? Think again. Unfortunately, this is not one environmental / health issue that’s going to be swept under the rug and forgotten about too easily. (even if all the companies involved eventually file for bankruptcy) Bayside Bulletin of Australia reports: Asbestos is present in more than half…

Asbestos Bill Hopes Blossom, Then Wither

Should Congress bail out the companies responsible for the asbestos crisis? Apparently some seem to think so: As the legislative day dawned on Capitol Hill yesterday, an unexpected ray of hope arrived with it: A bill to resolve the asbestos crisis, pronounced dead a month ago, appeared to be alive once more. “I think that…