The majority of jurors in the case of Robert Ernst, the Texas man who died after taking the prescription drug Vioxx, voted against Merck and Co. in the case because they simply did not believe Merck’s arguments that Vioxx was safe. As reported by Kristen Hays of the Associated Press, jurors felt that Merck and Co. failed to adequately test the safety of Vioxx before putting it on the market. Several of the jurors said they wanted to send a message to Merck.

“They needed to be held accountable,” said 21-year-old Stacy Smith. Merck pulled Vioxx from the market last September when a long-term study showed it could double the risk of a heart attack or stroke in patients. Carol Ernst, widow of Robert Ernst, alleged that Merck knew Vioxx could be dangerous but downplayed those concerns in favor of aggressively marketing the drug, which grew into a blockbuster with over $2 billion in sales.

Source: Kristin Hays, “Vioxx Jurors Sought to Send a Message,” Associated Press, August 19, 2005; Associated Press photo.