The justice system is different in different countries.  When we were in the UK and I wanted the liquid cortef to travel (due to its long shelf life) my GP would not script the med even though it was available.  He gave me his reasons why.  He said that IF he scripted that med and it did not work, and something happened as a consequence to Ashley, that I could sue him for prescribing the drug.  This would then lead to him in turn having to sue the manufacturer or the body that "passed" the drug as safe.  That is why I posed the questions that I did in my posts.  If in one country they can see that the doctor is partly responsible what makes the US any different where doctors are concerned?  Are they to be let off the hook or something?  The system I mentione above works very well and it makes sure that a doctor ALWAYS thinks very carefully before prescribing a drug to a patient.  he knows that it is his livelihood involved in doing so not just the drug company. 

In New Zealand, you cannot sue the doctor OR the drug company from what I can gather.  That is why it is very hard to get a drug passed here for use or for subsidization.  The buck stops with the body of people i.e. PHARMAC who approve meds for use within the country.   So a doctor can DO anything he likes in the way of treatment or scripts that is within reasonable parameters and get away with any ill consequences.  They have just passed a law to say that anyone maltreated can make a case public.  However, you cannot sue. 

Out of the three... the US way, and the UK way and here, I think I am all for the UK way of dealing.  Every medical person is responsible for anything that he does in the way of treatment.  That way, there is more care around what is prescribed or done for a person.  I can see the sense in that as then all doctors respect that a patient is their client and do their utmost for them, despite how they feel about them, as they know they could be sued. 

I haven't said DON'T sue.  I have suggested that really the blame falls between three places.  The doctor, the FDA and the manufacturer concerned.  WHERE does one end and another begin?  Well I would leave parents to fathom that out from their individual cases as I do not know them ALL. 

It is sad that many children lost their lives or became irreversibly affected.  I KNOW that.  But the same questions must be in the backs of many people's minds when considering the above.