Owner of pharmacy linked to meningitis outbreak takes Fifth
WASHINGTON (AP) - The owner and director of the specialty pharmacy tied to a deadly meningitis outbreak declined to testify Wednesday morning before a congressional committee investigating the matter.
Barry Cadden, co-founder of the New England Compound Center, told lawmakers he would use his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions in order to avoid self-incrimination.
After repeated questioning by House lawmakers, Cadden told the House Energy and Commerce Committee: "Under advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer under basis of my constitutional rights and privileges, including the Fifth Amendment."
Lawmakers continued to ask Cadden questions about the contamination that has sickened nearly 440 people and caused 32 deaths.
The NECC has been closed since early last month, and Massachusetts officials have taken steps to permanently revoke its license. The pharmacy has recalled all the products it makes, including 17,700 single-dose vials of a steroid that tested positive for the fungus tied to the outbreak. Fungal meningitis causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Inspections last month by state and federal officials found a host of potential contaminants at NECC's facility, including standing water, mold and water droplets. Compounded drugs are supposed to be prepared in temperature-controlled clean rooms to maintain sterility.
Cadden appeared immediately after the widow of a longtime Kentucky judge, who was the first confirmed victim of the outbreak.
Speaking without notes, Joyce Lovelace told lawmakers of more than 50 years of marriage to 78-year-old Eddie C. Lovelace, who was a circuit judge until he died Sept. 17 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
She asked lawmakers to implement laws to police companies like the New England Compounding Center, which distributed steroids that tested positive for contamination.
"My family is bitter, we are angry, we are heartbroken and devastated. I come here begging you to do something about the matter."
Compounding pharmacies traditionally fill special orders placed by doctors for individual patients, turning out a small number of customized formulas each week. They are typically overseen by state pharmacy boards, though the Food and Drug Administration occasionally steps in when major problems arise. Some pharmacies have grown into much larger businesses in the last 20 years, supplying bulk orders of medicines to hospitals that need a steady supply of drugs on hand.
The Commissioner of the FDA asked the committee to draft new laws and provide more funding to police large specialty pharmacies like the one at the center of a deadly meningitis outbreak.
"In light of growing evidence of threats to the public health, the administration urges Congress to strengthen standards for non-traditional compounding," Hamburg told lawmakers.
Barry Cadden, co-founder of the New England Compound Center, told lawmakers he would use his Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions in order to avoid self-incrimination.
After repeated questioning by House lawmakers, Cadden told the House Energy and Commerce Committee: "Under advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer under basis of my constitutional rights and privileges, including the Fifth Amendment."
Lawmakers continued to ask Cadden questions about the contamination that has sickened nearly 440 people and caused 32 deaths.
The NECC has been closed since early last month, and Massachusetts officials have taken steps to permanently revoke its license. The pharmacy has recalled all the products it makes, including 17,700 single-dose vials of a steroid that tested positive for the fungus tied to the outbreak. Fungal meningitis causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Inspections last month by state and federal officials found a host of potential contaminants at NECC's facility, including standing water, mold and water droplets. Compounded drugs are supposed to be prepared in temperature-controlled clean rooms to maintain sterility.
Cadden appeared immediately after the widow of a longtime Kentucky judge, who was the first confirmed victim of the outbreak.
Speaking without notes, Joyce Lovelace told lawmakers of more than 50 years of marriage to 78-year-old Eddie C. Lovelace, who was a circuit judge until he died Sept. 17 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
She asked lawmakers to implement laws to police companies like the New England Compounding Center, which distributed steroids that tested positive for contamination.
"My family is bitter, we are angry, we are heartbroken and devastated. I come here begging you to do something about the matter."
Compounding pharmacies traditionally fill special orders placed by doctors for individual patients, turning out a small number of customized formulas each week. They are typically overseen by state pharmacy boards, though the Food and Drug Administration occasionally steps in when major problems arise. Some pharmacies have grown into much larger businesses in the last 20 years, supplying bulk orders of medicines to hospitals that need a steady supply of drugs on hand.
The Commissioner of the FDA asked the committee to draft new laws and provide more funding to police large specialty pharmacies like the one at the center of a deadly meningitis outbreak.
"In light of growing evidence of threats to the public health, the administration urges Congress to strengthen standards for non-traditional compounding," Hamburg told lawmakers.
Bastard doesn't want to incriminate himself. That means he does not want to admit he and his company are responsible for death and suffering due to negligence and cutting corners to save a dime. How much are those lives worth to you, Cadden? A clean room with standing water and mold?
What is odd is that this amendment is still used while the other amendments are not. We no longer have the right to "bear" arms against foreign oppressors, or to create militias without oversight, or the right to vote (not everyone has the right like felons).  Don't forget our right to timely and speedy trials are of course out of the window; timely and speedy my ass!
 @portlandborn83Â
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People create militias all the time. I bet right now there are at least 5 and likely one here in Oregon And should the US ever be invaded that "home protection" will be arms against them, no doubt.
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And not all felons cannot vote. Indeed anyone NOT incarcerated in Oregon can vote. And even the states where a felon has lost their franchise, they can petition to get it back. They can also move to a state where they still can vote as well.
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You also can get a "speedy" trial. You just may not want one. If you are innocent, then you want the prosecution to take their time. You should believe they will eventually find your innocence and drop the charges. If you are guilty, youâre hoping people forget and that you prolong your freedom on bond as long as possible. But by "speedy" the law is meant to allow that people who are being held are not held indefinitely. It is more about being allowed your time in court and not being jailed from something that can never be proven. This is why you can only be held for 2 of 4 days if you have not been charged.Â
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So all of your rights are there (except maybe the 4th, that's under attack and violated by the TSA every day). You just have to know how to use them. Most Americans haven't bothered to learn until someone tries to take them away.
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@Repoman I mostly agree but you can have your right to vote revoked at anytime and you may not know about it. This can be for various reasons. You'll have to re-register first, registration is not for life. So if you are unregistered you cannot vote.
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Also free speech is being curtailed on websites like facebook or even katu.
@portlandborn83 Uhh, duh. You've got limited free speech in my home, too. Go cry elsewhere if you think that free speech should be allowed in private businesses. Maybe you can start a protest. You sit there with your head up your behind and blame everybody else for the odor. If the trials are too slow, it's somebody else's fault; if the trials are too fast, it's somebody else's fault; if the penalties are too lenient/harsh ... I think you'd get the point if you had it in you. They should renickname Portland to "The City of Cheese and Whine", it even fits the skinny-jean hipster scene, too.