Bendectin and Birth Defects
The Challenges of Mass Toxic Substances Litigation
Published on 1. January 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-8122-1645-5 (ISBN)
Description
Benedictin was prescribed to more than thirty-five million American women from its introduction in 1956 until 1983, when it was withdrawn from the market. The drug's manufacturer, Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals, a major U.S. pharmaceutical firm, joined a list of other companies whose product liabilities would result in precedent-setting litigation. Before it was over, the Benedictin litigation would involve 2,000 claimants over a fifteen-year period. Michael D. Green offers a comprehensive overview of the Benedictin case and highlights many of the key issues in mass toxic substances litigation, comparing individual and collective forms of litigation, and illustrating the misunderstandings between scientists and lawyers about the role of science in providing evidence for the legal system.
Reviews / Votes
"Important reading for obstetrician-gynecologists and family physicians who provide obstetrical services." (New England Journal of Medicine) "Should be required reading in all law schools, and should be part of continuing education activities for judges and attorneys." (Judicature)More details
Edition
Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Pennsylvania
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 223 mm
Width: 147 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
581 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8122-1645-5 (9780812216455)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2016
1st Edition
University of Pennsylvania Press
€92.99
Available for download
Person
Michael D. Green is Professor of Law at the University of Iowa.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1-A Birth Defect Child Is Born
Chapter 2-Locating Bendectin within the Mass Toxic Landscape
Chapter 3-The Science of Determining Toxic Causation
Chapter 4-The Food and Drug Administration
Chapter 5-The Wm. S. Merrell Company
Chapter 6-A Mother's Quest
Chapter 7-The Mekdeci Case
Chapter 8-The Unraveling of Mekdeci
Chapter 9-The Proliferation of Bendectin Litigation
Chapter 10-Litigating a Multidistrict Case
Chapter 11-The Withdrawal of Bendectin
Chapter 12-Forging a Mass Toxic Substances Trial
Chapter 13-The Settlement and Unsettlement of MDL-486
Chapter 14-The MDL-486 Trial
Chapter 15-Aggregative Procedure in Mass Toxic Substances Litigation
Chapter 16-The Third Phase of Bendectin Litigation: Oxendine, Richardson, and the Individual Trials
Chapter 17-The Legacy of Bendectin for Toxic Causation Law
Chapter 18-The Lessons and Non-Lessons of Bendectin Litigation
Selected Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1-A Birth Defect Child Is Born
Chapter 2-Locating Bendectin within the Mass Toxic Landscape
Chapter 3-The Science of Determining Toxic Causation
Chapter 4-The Food and Drug Administration
Chapter 5-The Wm. S. Merrell Company
Chapter 6-A Mother's Quest
Chapter 7-The Mekdeci Case
Chapter 8-The Unraveling of Mekdeci
Chapter 9-The Proliferation of Bendectin Litigation
Chapter 10-Litigating a Multidistrict Case
Chapter 11-The Withdrawal of Bendectin
Chapter 12-Forging a Mass Toxic Substances Trial
Chapter 13-The Settlement and Unsettlement of MDL-486
Chapter 14-The MDL-486 Trial
Chapter 15-Aggregative Procedure in Mass Toxic Substances Litigation
Chapter 16-The Third Phase of Bendectin Litigation: Oxendine, Richardson, and the Individual Trials
Chapter 17-The Legacy of Bendectin for Toxic Causation Law
Chapter 18-The Lessons and Non-Lessons of Bendectin Litigation
Selected Bibliography
Index