Gerard Freriks wrote:
>
> << start of forwarded material >>
>
> Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 14:55:20 +0100
> To:[log in to unmask]
> From:[log in to unmask] (Gerard Freriks)
> Subject:Re: New Class of Lurkers
>
> At 13:42 on 9/8/96, Andrew Herd wrote:
>
> > In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Jon Wilcox wrote:
> >
> > > Lurking journo's are one thing, but lurking lawyers are a different ball
> > > game.
> > > This really, really, really bothers me. This Company (Alert UK)
> > > specialises in suing doctors, the pharmaceutical industry and other
> > > professionals.
> >
> > I've got to say that if there are lawyers in this list, I am leaving. I
> > simply cannot see the point of including them.
> >
> > Trims? Anyone care to confirm?
> >
>
> I dislike lawyers as much as anybody. (Sharks, which make money and provide
> no real help for the victim, but some money)
>
> On the otherhand. They are humans as well, and patients when ill.
> And perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, who knows, I'm an optimist, they learn to
> understand the GP, and perhaps we them. Who knows?
>
> Lawyer,lurkers, come forward. I'm not afraid.
>
> Greetings
>
> << end of forwarded material >>
>
> Gerard Freriks,huisarts, MD
> C. Sterrenburgstr 54
> 3151JG Hoek van Holland
> the Netherlands  (31) 174-384296/ Fax: -386249


Dear Gerard

"no real help"...just a few of the positive benefits from litigation
with which I am proud to have been involved:-

1. Baby Ribena  now contains a warning not to use in feeding bottles and
spelling out the caries risk. This only occurred after we commenced
litigation on liability for the lack of such warnings.

2. CSM warned doctors in 1988 against prescribing of Benzodiazepines for
longer than four weeks. This was shortly after we issued proceedings
against the CSM for their failure to warn. Dr Cosmo Hallstrom, leading
authority on benzos,  wrote:-
"The media and lawyers have undoubtedly altered prescribing practices
mostly for the better." Cosmo Hallstrom Journal of Forensic Psychiatry
1991, 2 pp5-7.

3. High purity Factor VIII introduced for HIV positive UK haemophiliacs
through decision to provide funds centrally from AIDS budget that
otherwise were being denied by local HAs. This followed litigation
threat from us in light of Government's commitment to the court at the
final Haemophilia/HIV hearing to provide "best treatment".

4. Antimony and Phosphine treated baby mattresses withdrawn totally from
the market following litigation investigations into Cot Death. Contray
to reported comments in press, antimony has not yet been dismissed by
the Government Commmmittee as a possible contributory cause.

5. If our current environmental asbestos case succeeds (release in fire)
this will have an immense benefit in that insurers will then in future
require removal of asbestos from all empty buildings as a condition of
fire cover.

On a general note, US lawyers are responsible for side impact doors
being introduced in cars which will have saved many lives.

OK, we may like making money, but please don't bring out all the old
tired lawyer/shark cliches.



Graham


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