This Isn’t Funny

A dastardly deed:

For years, Johnson & Johnson obscured evidence that its popular Ortho Evra birth control patch delivered much more estrogen than standard birth control pills, potentially increasing the risk of blood clots and strokes, according to internal company documents.

An argumentative sleight of hand known as “pre-emption:”

But because the Food and Drug Administration approved the patch, the company is arguing in court that it cannot be sued by women who claim that they were injured by the product — even though its old label inaccurately described the amount of estrogen it released.

What villain would support such a preposterous claim?

The Bush administration has argued strongly in favor of the doctrine, which holds that the F.D.A. is the only agency with enough expertise to regulate drug makers and that its decisions should not be second-guessed by courts.

Egad! Is there a hero at the ready?

The Supreme Court is to rule on a case next term that could make pre-emption a legal standard for drug cases. The court already ruled in February that many suits against the makers of medical devices like pacemakers are pre-empted.

Nope.

The Supreme Court of the Corporate States of America likely won’t give a sh*t about dead women. Not when there are profits to protect.

And of course the chronic revolving door between industry and regulatory agencies that has become part and parcel of Lobbytown, D.C. no doubt will be beside the point.