Jury selection process for first Vioxx trial begins

By Ramsay Crooks

Published on July 22, 2005

Potential jurors were asked to answer more than 100 questions about such topics as their political views, favorite TV programs, and other aspects of their lifestyles. The questionnaire was almost 20 pages long, and the answers provided will help in narrowing down the jury pool for the upcoming court case.

The questionnaire also asked jury candidates how much they agreed with a range of conflicting statements about corporate ethics, particularly in regards to the pharmaceutical industry. Other questions asked if they supported limiting or eliminating large jury awards.

The lawsuit is the first of more than 3,800 state and federal lawsuits that have been filed against Merck & Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in America. Merck recalled Vioxx, a popular prescription painkiller, after research showed that it doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients taking it for 18 months or longer.

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