Jury Awards for Breast Cancer.

The Wall Street Journal recently provided news about a multimillion ($34 million) award against Wyeth for a breast cancer supposedly caused by a menopausal treatment drug. There are over 5000 similar cases awaiting trial. This award should cause great concern. All drugs have side effects, many cannot be observed until there is widespread use. Just as vaccines almost disappeared until Congress developed a national program to cover any ill effects, we may see all development of new drugs come to a screeching halt, or available only in countries with a less litigous climate. I wonder how much litigation would be prevented if we had universal heltsh care coverage?