The new OHRP will focus entirely on protecting human subjects whereas the oversight of animal treatment studies will now be monitored by a new Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare at the National Institute of Health. What we are seeing is the government s reaction to the public s perception there are widespread violations of research regulations and safety protocols. Public scrutiny also increased following multiple deaths associated with the drug Rezulin which was designed to manage diabetes. Such regulatory violations are being used by plaintiffs to establish the existence of an unfair business practice as defined by the UBPA in support of civil litigation. Research and development companies should expect increased public scrutiny and media attention will continue as medical advances drive a growing global marketplace.
Economic success is known to enhance the probability of litigation.
The future impact on medical industries. Legislative action will likely keep these issues on the front page. Concern fueled by media coverage serves as an ongoing catalyst for lawsuits as media attention unfortunately begets attorney attention. These same issues apply to all related industries including blood banks, tissue banks, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. Business alliances between technology and medicine are also impacted as the new wave of medical miracles raises new legal questions.