Homeland Security to Limit Liability Suits (for vaccines)

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The Homeland Security Department is seeking to shield more antiterror research companies from product liability lawsuits, Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday.

Chertoff, speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the department has "not fully succeeded in exploiting" legislation that limits the extent companies can be sued for problematic products.

"I have a great deal of respect and understanding of the importance of our legal system," said Chertoff, a former federal prosecutor and appeals court judge. "But I also know how important it is that the legal system not create unduly high and burdensome transaction costs that do not allow us to make the kinds of rational decisions we have to make in order to protect ourselves."
....
Debate over liability protections has focused recently on legislation to shield manufacturers of bioterrorism vaccines. The drug industry supports the legislation, but trial lawyers vigorously oppose the bill, which they said would take away rights from victims.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-homeland-security-liability,0,5582655.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. First the troops are guinea pigs, now the public

They used to pay people to take unproven drugs. Not anymore, huh? And if there's any monsterism (thank you Simpsons), you're SOL.

Niiiice.

Whose country is this again?

[cap]

2. its the mercury in the vaccine

that may cause autism....

This has nothing to do with homeland security that's why they are sneaking it in.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. Is this how they're going to get rid of the asbestos problem too?

Heh..

Wait, that's not funny.

[gate of the sun]

7. I agree

they are only looking out for the drug manufacturer's.

[Robb]

3. HIgh cost negates rational decision?

Well, fuck. That explains an awful lot.

In the words of one NPR commentator, this is the slippery slope we've all been hearing about, and it's raining harder. :(

[librechik]

4. Friday Night News Dump

dumps again.

[KDLarsen]

6. What the hell does DoHS have to do with vaccines?

.. wouldn't that be something for the health department or justice department?

[screembloodymurder]

8. We gotta get out of this place

if it's the last thing we ever do.

[MisterP]

9. DHS--because bloated, amoral corporations ARE the country!

just like the HS raid on the Hungarian Rubik's Cube lookalikes

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Samantha]

11. Remember to call Bill Frist and thank him

Second time around for this.

Frist had Dick Army tack on a rider to a bill excluding the manufacturer of this shot from suits. It's Eli Lilly (spelling?) -- good friend of Frist's. It did not slip by, so looks like Frist has found another venue to protect his corporate friend, and if you suffer adverse reactions from this vaccination, oh well, at least Eli Lilly won't get hurt by your lawsuit.