Pharmaceutical Liability Study
(Released July 2003)
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Executive Summary
Pharmaceutical product liability litigation is a major concern for medical professionals and patients alike.
Though patient packet inserts are still regarded as a valuable resource for patients, many medical professionals feel that product liability litigation is a critical factor in making these inserts more complicated than they need to be.
- A large number of medical professionals report that patients have stopped or refused certain medications prescribed to them because they discovered the drug was involved in product liability litigation.
Malpractice lawsuits are a real concern for most doctors and many pharmacists. In order to lower the risk of being sued, many doctors and pharmacists have taken steps to protect themselves.
- Two in five doctors have avoided prescribing an appropriate prescription medication because they were aware that the drug might be involved in product liability litigation.
- A similar number of pharmacists say that they often over-emphasize possible side effects associated with prescription drugs to avoid potential malpractice litigation.
Patients are aware of product liability litigation, and are concerned that it prevents pharmaceutical companies from pursuing research in certain product areas.
Download and read the full report (PDF, 248KB) | Adobe Acrobat Reader Required