This is a link to doctor’s website that collects a large number of sources of medical information. It is the best collection of medical links I have seen to date.
This One Will Give You Peace of Mind
Ok, I have lived long enough to have some idea how the world works. I do not pretend to understand how the world works, mind you, I just have some idea how it works.
I knew that it was not by happenstance that drug reps tended to be attractive women (and men). But it never came to my mind that the drug companies would be actively recruiting cheerleaders to sell drugs. Read this story from the New York Times.
I love this quote: “T. Lynn Williamson, [a] cheering adviser at Kentucky, says he regularly gets calls from recruiters looking for talent, mainly from pharmaceutical companies. … ‘They don’t ask what the major is,’ Mr. Williamson said. Proven cheerleading skills suffice. ‘Exaggerated motions, exaggerated smiles, exaggerated enthusiasm – they learn those things, and they can get people to do what they want.'”
Federal Judge Allows Experts To Testify in Short-Term Vioxx Case
The federal judge heading up the Vioxx MDL will permit the plaintiffs to call expert witnesses to prove that short-term use of Vioxx can cause cardiac problems.
Read about the ruling and other Vioxx news here.
Death of a Friend – David Shrager
I just learned that David Shrager, a fine gentleman and lawyer from Philadelphia, has died. David is a former President of ATLA and a man I greatly admired. He always took the time to talk to young lawyers and remind them of their responsibility to their clients and the public. He was a giant of the trial bar.
Ken Suggs, the current ATLA President, has sent out a email about David’s death. It is set out fully below.
“ATLA, the legal profession and the vulnerable families we represent have lost an outstanding leader and friend.
Thanksgiving Weekend
I am taking a few days off to enjoy the holidays. I be back with you on Monday a.m.
Off Topic – Iraq
Well, I just said that I wasn’t going to post anything and then came upon this interesting article about the events leading up to the war in Iraq. This article does as fine a job as I have seen compiling the facts about the representations made by the Bush administration leading up to the war.
Please don’t write to me and tell me that I don’t support our troops. That is ridiculous.
Article in Memphis Paper About Medical Malpractice Litigation in Tennessee
Here is an interesting article published in a Memphis newspaper.
Toy Report Issued – Concerns About Risk of Injury to Children Expressed
It’s toy time in Tennessee – and all around the nation. This report is the 20th Annual Toy Survey that advises us about toys that present a risk to children. Here is the Executive Summary. And here is summary list of the toys that present a potential hazard.
Last Chance for Justice Programs Seminar
Next week is the last seminar of the year offered by Justice Programs, a creation of former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Penny White, former Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Joy Riley and yours truly. We will be in downtown Memphis at the Doubletree Hotel on December 1 and 2.
We offer a complete year’s worth of CLE is 2 days. The program is designed for civil trial practioners.
We have had a great time with the seminar this year and, if I do say so myself, have had great reviews. We have almost doubled our attendance from last year and have been very fortunate to have a good number of repeat attendees.
Tort Reform Playbook
Here is what purports to be talking points concerning tort reform for Republicans.
A sampling: “America has far too many frivolous lawsuits, absurd jury awards and outrageous plaintiffs’ lawyers. They wreck small businesses, damage the economy, punish consumers, deprive Americans of essential healthcare and cost all of us a lot of money. Republicans can never go wrong criticizing lawsuit abuse. For statistical purposes, you start with a potential pool of 81% of the electorate that believes ‘laws should be enacted to make it tougher for lawyers to file frivolous lawsuits.’ That’s pretty darn good.
So you start out with the American public on your side. But to keep them there, you need to talk about this issue using the right tone, context and language.”
It goes on and on, page after page.