You probably recall the gift plaintiff attorneys received by mistake from Merck last week, in the form of a memo in which company officials admitted using Vioxx increased a patient's risk of cardiovascular problems and that an additive was needed to reduce those toxic side effects.

Fact is, that gift is little consolation to Carol Ernst, the 60-year-old widow who takes on Merck in a Texas courtroom in 10 days in a wrongful death lawsuit that blames Vioxx for the coronary atherosclerosis that killed her husband four years ago, long before any warnings or recalls.

Some observers believe the Ernst lawsuit will be a bellwether for some 3,800 Vioxx-related lawsuits, and I can understand why: Bob Ernst, a runner and marathoner, exercised regularly and had quit smoking and all alcohol, save an occasional glass of wine. Roughly eight months after switching to Vioxx -- to treat hand pain -- Bob fell into a coma late one night in early May, and later died.

Just to put an exclamation point on the damage caused the reckless behavior of the mega-pharmaceuticals, Texas Attorney General announced his state had filed a separate lawsuit against Merck for at least $168 million, based on prescription reimbursements made by the state's Medicaid program during the five years Vioxx was on the market.

Just one more reason -- if you're looking for safer, natural treatments for your pain -- I strongly urge you to review my popular article about the seven anti-inflammatory alternatives that can protect your heart.

USA Today July 1, 2005

USA Today June 30, 2005