Bill S.3: Another Homeland Security Scandal? Parents Are Watching, Says NAA
New Frist/Gregg Bill May Contain Vaccine Language that Once Again Coddles Big Pharma
Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 30, 2005
Are Senators Judd Gregg and Bill Frist at it again? In a press release issued from Senator GreggÂ’s office Monday, a new bill, S3, will reportedly deal with vaccine compensation, says the National Autism Association. However, the details surrounding that part of the bill remain absent.
In a section entitled "Litigation Reform," the S3 bill, "Requires the Secretary and the Attorney General of the US to make recommendations to Congress regarding the necessary modifications to federal programs and rules regarding litigation involving vaccines." And because several Senate leaders have expressed that topping the agenda are "Frivolous Lawsuits" and "Medical Malpractice Reform," it is likely S3 will contain similar language of past legislation:
In May, 2002, Senator Frist introduced legislation that protected drug companies from vaccine-related lawsuits. Parents acted and the bill died. In November 2002, a provision which would prohibit lawsuits against Eli Lilly, the maker of mercury-based Thimerosal used in vaccines, was tip-toed into the Homeland Security Bill causing a “whodunit” scandal. Parents and legislators had the provision repealed. In March, 2003, Senator Frist introduced the same legislative language as part of the BioShield Bill. The provision was removed after parents rallied in DC. In April, 2003, Senators Frist and Gregg worked with Senator Chris Dodd on a compromise to revamp the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. When the compromise leaned too much in the favor of the children, Frist and Gregg pulled out. In February, 2004, Senator Frist introduced the Healthy Women and Healthy Babies Access to Care which prohibited lawsuits against any FDA-approved product or device including mercury-containing immunoglobulin products given to pregnant women.
For years, these two Senators have introduced legislation under the guise of protecting drug companies from frivolous lawsuits. Parents say it's simply a shameful attempt to keep their pharma friends happy. "My child has rights," says parent Laura Bono, Durham, NC, whose child was injured by mercury in vaccines. "His rights continue to be jeopardized by those looking out more for American pharma than American families."
A block on civil court cases would hurt more than a childÂ’s rights. Several Thimerosal lawsuits have moved forward in civil court. Trials begin this year. Blocking these lawsuits would interfere with already successful efforts to see what drug companies knew about the harmful effects of mercury in vaccines. "It would be criminal to try and stop parents from learning valuable information about the cause of their childÂ’s illness," says Rita Shreffler, parent from Nixa, Missouri and secretary of the National Autism Association.
Bono agrees. "Vioxx caused heart attacks and strokes. Harmful effects of SSRIs were swept under the rug. Thimerosal causes autism. The system is broken. In my opinion, Frist and Gregg continue to create an escape route for drug companies that have no incentive to put health before profit."
The National Autism Association is currently launching a campaign to inundate law-makers with letters requesting to keep their childÂ’s rights intact.
To learn more, visit www. NationalAutism. org.
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