26 février, 2007 14:55
Moolenaar: Drug legislation's message wrong
Lawsuits related to silicone gel breast implants, not drugs, led to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Dow Corning Corp. in 1995. But Midland Republican Rep. John Moolenaar cited the Dow Corning situation in explaining his presence Thursday on the losing side of a state House vote.
If the Senate and governor agree, the bill the House approved Thursday would remove some protection drug companies have.
The bill would repeal Michigan's law protecting drug companies from product liability lawsuits involving drugs that have been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.
Also voting no was Republican Bill Caul of Mount Pleasant, Midland County's other state House representative.
The vote was 70-39, with only one Democrat among the "no" voters.
Tim Moore of Farwell was among 13 Republicans voting yes.
Current law protects patients against fraud and deliberate misrepresentation, Moolenaar said.
And the House-approved repeal "sends the wrong message about Michigan," he added.
"We want Michigan to be a place" where innovative product developers locate, he said.
Dow Corning emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2004 and stopped making implants in the early 1990s. Although thousands of people with implants sued the company, claiming the implants caused serious problems such as systemic diseases and memory difficulties, Dow Corning maintained the position that the implants do not cause disease. In recent years, a large body of scientific studies has borne that out. But the company paid huge financial costs to defend itself and put in place a settlement trust to settle claims with those who believe they were injured or wanted their implants removed.
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Lawsuits related to silicone gel breast implants, not drugs, led to the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Dow Corning Corp. in 1995. But Midland Republican Rep
Dow Chemical and Dow Corning both lied an are continuing to avoid paying there
Breast implant victims. Breast Implants, do cause numerous serious diseases.
The studies Done by, reputable physicians; and scientist don't lie. Dow Chemical, does and has from The beginning. Dow Corning, was never bankrupt! This was, Dow's, way
to stall paying; us what we; justly deserve for there faulty toxic breast Implants an
Other silicone devices.
Gigi-Karen
