I'd never heard of it either. I wonder if it got more publicity in Germany at the time?
With hindsight, a pregnancy test that messes about with a woman's menstrual cycle sounds like a pretty stupid idea in any case, but I expect they knew much less about such things in the 70s.
I think the drug company would do themselves a favour if they just put their hands up and said "OK, somebody screwed up, we apologise." and paid the compensation - that would be better for them and for the victims of the drug. I don't suppose they will though.
Yes that would be a good move on their part. They could be careful to say all the right things about how their safety checks are better now and how much they're ready and willing to help the people they hurt.
I also think that this story could be quoted by anybody faced with demands for shortcuts around drug safety testing. I don't believe that there's a conspiracy of doctors and drug companies trying to keep us ill so that they can make money.
They could be careful to say all the right things about how their safety checks are better now and how much they're ready and willing to help the people they hurt.
Yes. You'd think they'd want to do whatever they can to shore up their reputation really. Especially as they only bought the company later - they have a real opportunity to be the "good guys" over this.
But I daresay the bean counters will win the day as usual and there'll be a long drawn out legal battle instead.
I don't believe that there's a conspiracy of doctors and drug companies trying to keep us ill so that they can make money.
I don't think there needs to be - why bother with anything so elaborate when there are so many real illnesses they can sell us remedies for?
Comments 3
With hindsight, a pregnancy test that messes about with a woman's menstrual cycle sounds like a pretty stupid idea in any case, but I expect they knew much less about such things in the 70s.
I think the drug company would do themselves a favour if they just put their hands up and said "OK, somebody screwed up, we apologise." and paid the compensation - that would be better for them and for the victims of the drug. I don't suppose they will though.
Reply
I also think that this story could be quoted by anybody faced with demands for shortcuts around drug safety testing. I don't believe that there's a conspiracy of doctors and drug companies trying to keep us ill so that they can make money.
Reply
Yes. You'd think they'd want to do whatever they can to shore up their reputation really. Especially as they only bought the company later - they have a real opportunity to be the "good guys" over this.
But I daresay the bean counters will win the day as usual and there'll be a long drawn out legal battle instead.
I don't believe that there's a conspiracy of doctors and drug companies trying to keep us ill so that they can make money.
I don't think there needs to be - why bother with anything so elaborate when there are so many real illnesses they can sell us remedies for?
Reply
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