Archive for May 15th, 2006

Bush Uses FDA To Shield Big Pharma From Lawsuits Home / Headlines / Bush Uses FDA To Shield Big Pharma From Lawsuits - Media Monitors Network (MMN)

Bush Uses FDA To Shield Big Pharma From Lawsuits - Media Monitors Network (MMN):

The ploy was also readily recognized by state lawmakers and trial lawyers as another ploy to reduce the public’s ability to hold Big Pharma accountable. “Eliminating the rights of individuals to hold negligent drug companies accountable puts patients in even more danger than they already are in from drug company executives that put profits before safety,” said Ken Suggs, president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

“The fact that the drug industry can get the FDA to rewrite the rules so that CEOs can escape accountability for putting dangerous and deadly drugs on the market is the scariest example yet of how much control these big corporations have over our political process,” Mr Suggs told the Washington Post.

According to Ms Menziess, “The FDA’s preemption argument, if successful, would take away the sole means by which American consumers may obtain compensation for drug-induced injuries caused by a drug company’s failure to warn.”

An excellent write-up of all the crazy back-room legislative shenanigans being orchestrated by the Congressional Republicans (most notably, our good friend Dr. Bill Frist) in an attempt to grant big drug companies even more legal legroom when it comes to product liability. Guess who helped write the language he keeps trying to stick into every other bill? Yep, more good ‘ol lobbyists! Who are these people?

Well, here’s a little glimpse into what twisted logic they seem to be trying to pass off as “rationale”:

“The FDA’s purported position on preemption assumes that the FDA is infallible and that negligent misconduct by pharmaceutical companies should be the sole purview of FDA. Recent regulatory failures demonstrate that FDA is neither infallible nor does it have the capability of policing drug manufacturers negligent misconduct.”

Wait, don’t republicans like small government? Or are courts getting too bloated alluvasudden? But the fact that all these bills are being written in shifty late-night makeout parties with industry insiders sends all their excuses to hell…

(Via Media Monitors Network.)

GENERATION DEPRESSED: Teens try to beat the blues of depression

GENERATION DEPRESSED: Teens try to beat the blues of depression:

In the past 15 years, the number of teenagers on anti-depressants has skyrocketed. Between the early 1990s and 2001, the prescription rate of anti-depressants for those under 18 more than tripled. In 2002, 11 million anti-depressant prescriptions were written for children and adolescents in the United States.

The BU center treats about 150 to 200 children and teenagers each year. The majority - anywhere from 60 to 90 percent - are treated successfully without medication, with most therapy treatments lasting three to six months, Ehrenreich said. The center uses cognitive behavioral treatments to help children and teens with anxiety disorders, which often go hand-in-hand with depression.

A recent study has confirmed that cognitive behavioral therapy can be quite effective at treating depression - but most effective when combined with medication.

‘‘I always understood depression as being where you can’t get out of bed, you lose your interest in food and in life,’’ she said. ‘‘Maureen was going out and doing activities and functioning. I thought she was OK. When I look back, I realize she was irritable and angry and arguing with me, but you think they’re just being teenagers. It turns out that was all part of her depression, and I had no clue.’’

A pretty good all around article on teenage depression.

(Via The Patriot Ledger.)

Rammed earth construction

Rammed earth construction:

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Ugo writes - “If the production of cement is one of the highest carbon dioxide emitters in the world today, how can we reform the way we build in order to reduce these emissions? One of the answers might lie in the use of rammed earth as a material for construction of buildings.” - Link.

(Via MAKE Magazine.)