An Oasis of Litigation

Trial Lawyers vs. DoD

Trial Lawyers

Medpundit comments on the way in which lawsuits are influencing the U.S. Dept. of Defense Immunization program in her Tech Central Station column, Trial Lawyers vs. the Armed Forces.

One of the greatest public health advances in the past century -- the conquest of infectious disease by immunizations -- is slowly but surely being undermined in this century thanks to the efforts of a few determined trial lawyers.

Litigation, and the fear it spawns, has touched just about every facet of vaccination programs. It has reduced the number of vaccine manufacturers over the past three decades - from twenty-five to four. It has touched childhood vaccines. It kept an FDA panel from approving an appropriate viral strain for this year's influenza vaccine. It helped stall the smallpox vaccination program. And now, it has moved the Department of Defense to halt their anthrax vaccination program. You know things are bad when even the armed forces are afraid of the trial lawyers.

Posted by Paul at January 7, 2004 12:31 AM |