Firm Must Pay $521 Million in Damages Over Bad Audits

A jury has ordered BDO Seidman, the nation's fifth-ranked accounting firm, to pay more than $351 million in punitive damages in a lawsuite, bringing BDO's potential liability in the case to roughly $521 million.

The SCOOTER Store Settles False Claim Lawsuit

As a result of a lawsuit filed by the United States, the SCOOTER Store Inc. will pay the government $4 million. The corporation will also give up many millions more in pending claims for reimbursement to Medicare.

Avandia My Mother's Close Call

"In 2004 my mother was prescribed Avandia--it was a new experimental drug and her doctor recommended it to regulate her blood sugar," says daughter Anne. "But she suffered a heart attack on October 31. 2005 and I believe it was a result of Avandia."

Contraception Causes Complications

The Government Pharmacy says it does not import the birth control patch known as Ortho Evra that is reportedly causing health complications for women in the United States.

Of Mice and Men Avandia and Heart Attacks

A research report published on-line September 6 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation may provide important clues as to why GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia has such a deadly effect on some diabetics.

Former Wyeth Salesman Testifies Company Downplayed Risks

A former salesman for pharmaceutical giant Wyeth testified that he was coached by the company to downplay studies showing its hormone replacement drug Prempro increased a woman's risk for breast cancer.

Actos Bests Avandia in New Study

Already under attack for potential heart risks, the diabetes drug Avandia is taking fresh hits from two new studies published Sept. 11 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Reports of Drug Side Effects Rise

U.S. regulators received more than twice as many reports of deadly or debilitating side effects from drug treatment in 2005 as they did seven years before, a study found.

Diseases Associated with Asbestos

The use of asbestos has declined sharply over the last several decades as people became more aware of the serious health consequences associated with asbestos exposure.

Avandia Should be Pulled, say Authors of Studies

Two studies and an editorial today should lead the Food and Drug Administration to pull the diabetes pill Avandia off the market, the authors say.