Former Pfizer Scientist Wins $1.4M Over A Virus
9 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // April 1st, 2010 // 6:34 pm
Becky McClain, a scientist who claims she was infected by an experimental virus while working at Pfizer’s Groton laboratories, was awarded $1.37 million by a federal jury. Workers’ rights groups hailed the verdict, and said the outcome of the federal civil suit was a major milestone for biotech and nanotech workers everywhere, The Day writes.
“If this could happen at the biggest drug company in the world, it could happen in other plants,” Steve Zeltzer, chair of the California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day, a group that advocates for employees hurt on the job, tells the paper. “It’s a vindication of the courage shown by Becky to confront the need to do a proper oversight of the biotech industry.”
The three-week trial was closely followed because it is the first federal case involving a biotech worker who claims to have been harmed by a novel virus on the job. The lawsuit was seen as an example of evidence that risks caused by genetic manipulation have outstripped more slowly evolving government regulation of laboratories.
McClain, a molecular biologist who filed her suit about three years ago, claimed Pfizer violated whistleblower laws. A former member of the drugmaker’s safety committee, McClain also charged Pfizer violated her freedom of speech by terminating her after she pressed complaints with the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (back story here and here).
pharmavet
I agree on the award based on the workplace safety violations. However, I have yet to see the data that actually ties this worker’s illness directly to this particular retrovirus. If it behaves at all like HIV, for which we have very good markers, it should not have been terribly difficult to demonstrate evidence of the virus or its effect on the immune system in this patient. To me, this was more a case of Res Ipsa Loquitor then a scientifically sound causally related verdict.
Lisa Van Syckel
POOOOOOH YEAHHHH. You go girl.
JimK
Pharmavet
It appears from the back stories that the issues presented to the jury had nothing to do with her illness or lack safety violations at Pfizer.
It appears her case was decided entirely on the protections afforded under the “Whistleblower” laws.
JimK
sorry
should be lax not lack
PJ Hansen
I agree with JimK that the decision seems to be based entirely on “whistleblower” law violations and is likely just.
However, the “virus” issue is disturbing and dangerous to science as a whole as it is the hook for any good headline. Pharmavet has it right. How exactly was she infected by the noxious fumes? Is there actual evidence of viral infection? Disappointing that conviction for breaking “whistleblower” laws gets mixed in with the GMO viral boogeyman.
patrons99
PJ Hansen - you’ve got it completely wrong. It’s the GMO viral “boogeyman” that is the real issue here.
http://www.saynotogmos.org/virus_hazard.htm
We are ALL at risk from “Biopharma gone wild”. It’s completely unregulated. The risk of lab accidents and “accidental” lab releases upon the public poses an extreme risk to our survival.
Former Pharma Marketing Director
But, now that we know this what will be done about it. Do you realize that there are already tons of GMO’s being used.
If you really intend to say “no” to GMO’s then you better go organic, and hope that measures are taken to make sure there is no cross contamination between GMO’s and organic growers…..Do we really know where our bee’s have been?
It’s already out of the lab, and we are already being contaminated. Does this mean that many people with autoimmune diseases can sue? I sure hope so….
This could turn out to be a really big story…
pharmavet
Speaking of viral boogeymen, get a hold of Michael Crichton’s “The Andromeda Strain”. Get the original 1971 film version(link to IMDb below), not the remake.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066769/
ChicNotGeek
I worked there as a scientist 20 years ago and experienced the same treatment/behavior, except I was too young and inexperienced to know that I could pursue damages/etc. Good for Becky McClain. Justice for someone.