After testifying countless times, and then turned down for the Drug Safety Advisory Committee, I have pretty much given up on the FDA as it is in bed with PhRMA. And I heard the same refrain that you mention from my state AG - it takes a lot of time and evidence, etc.

Why did Enron execs go to jail over money, and Lilly may never go to jail over murder? But thank you for your courteous response. I have posted a few remarks on the Indystar comment board, and some of the people responding to me have been vicious. Though I will say some of them are now acknowledging that the heads of the company should be imprisoned.

It is rarely about justice because companies settle, and the FDA, DOJ, and other interested parties almost never pursue issues beyond that point (except in the case of whistleblower situations where criminal findings are often mandated).

The rationale from the FDA/DOJ side is that civil penalties are already punishment, along with hurt of reputation (if that happens). They will also suggest that finding intent takes time and resources they don’t have. And they will suggest that the key revised safety information (or in some cases, drug withdrawal) has already happened. Finally, they will argue that to “punish” the comapany further could end up hurting its work to help other patients.

I understand. A chilling rationale to anyone who has suffered as you describe, and ones which I personally think are mostly bogus. But that is what you would hear, if you haven’t already.

Why is it always about money, all the time? What about justice?