Call for Safe Medicine at the State Capitol
December 21st, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
SACRAMENTO—In the wake of ongoing disclosures about pharmaceutical companies’ suppression of negative clinical trial results, a Pacifica father joined labor, senior, health, and consumer groups on the steps of the Capitol to call on members of the state Assembly to pass legislation that could prevent another tragedy like the one suffered by his family.
James Torlakson’s daughter committed suicide in 2004 while taking Celexa, an anti-depressant whose side-effects were downplayed by its manufacturer. The makers of Celexa and other antidepressants like it have come under increasing scrutiny for their failure to warn doctors and patients about negative studies involving the drugs’ use in adolescents.
“I believe that Elizabeth would be alive today had she been given proper warning in regard to Celexa and its dangers,” Torlakson said. “I believe that this drug, which was supposed to be helping her, killed her. Medical professionals and patients have a right to know the full truth in relationship to the benefits and risks of medicines. It is a matter of life and death.”
The legislation supported by Torlakson and the groups is SB 163, the Pharmaceutical Drug Safety and Information Act. Authored by Senator Jack Scott (Altadena) and sponsored by CALPIRG, it would require drug companies to release the results of all their health studies for every drug sold in California.
“From Celexa to Vioxx to Paxil, the pharmaceutical industry’s record of policing itself speaks for itself. These tragedies have made it perfectly clear that drug companies won’t voluntarily tell the public the whole truth,” said Emily Clayton, CALPIRG’s Health Care Advocate. “This legislation represents the best hope that doctors, researchers and patients have of getting some real answers about the safety and effectiveness of their medicines.”
The legislation, to be voted on in the Assembly Business and Professions committee on Tuesday, would give doctors and the public access to this information by making it available on the internet. It has been endorsed by a broad spectrum of groups including CALPIRG, AARP California, California Alliance of Retired Americans, California Labor Federation/AFL-CIO, Congress of California Seniors, Consumers Union, Gray Panthers, Greenlining Institute, Health Access, Older Women’s League, the OURx Bill of Rights Coalition and Senior Action Network.
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CALPIRG is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization.