Detroit News: Protect pharmaceutical jobs, keep FDA defense

LANSING, Mich., March 18, 2009 - The Detroit News today called on Michigan lawmakers to drop an effort to repeal Michigan's drug liability law.

Favoring the trial lawyer lobby over Michigan jobs, some lawmakers want to open the floodgates and allow frivolous lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies, doctors, pharmacists and other health care providers over treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Current law limits these lawsuits as long as FDA guidelines are followed.

"Aside from the message this would send to drug manufacturers, it would tell all prospective investors that Michigan is a very dangerous place in which to do business," The Detroit News said in an editorial. "What is now protected could wind up 10 years after the fact being subject to new standards of liability."

Download a copy of the editorial here.