A United States jury on Wednesday ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $29 million (Rs 202 crore) to a woman diagnosed with cancer, who alleged that the asbestos in the firm’s talcum-powder-based products caused her disease, Reuters reported. This is the latest development in over 13,000 lawsuits the company is facing across the US.

The pharmaceutical firm is also embroiled in a case involving faulty hipimplants.

The conglomerate said it would appeal the order and cited “serious procedural and evidentiary errors” in the trial’s proceedings. “We respect the legal process and reiterate that jury verdicts are not medical, scientific or regulatory conclusions about a product,” the company said.

Johnson & Johnson had refuted allegations that the product causes cancer and cited several studies and tests that to prove that its talc is safe.

The petitioner, Terry Leavitt, said she used Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower during the 1960s and 1970s before being diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017.

In July 2018, a jury in Missouri ordered the pharmaceutical company to pay $4.7 billion (Rs 32,169 crore) in damages to 22 women who alleged that they had developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s talc products.

The US Food and Drug Administration had commissioned a study of a variety of talc samples, including Johnson & Johnson’s, from 2009 to 2010. It found no asbestos in any of them. But the prosecution lawyer told the Missouri court that the FDA and Johnson & Johnson had used flawed testing methods.

On March 10, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation in India ordered the company to pay over Rs 74.5 lakh as compensation to a patient from Maharashtra who used faulty hip implants manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant.

Courtesy: The Scroll.in

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New Delhi: An Indian CEO has triggered widespread debate on social media after reportedly spending Rs 14 lakh on a Louis Vuitton suitcase designed for his dog. Ajay Thakore, CEO of Doctor Multimedia, shared a video on Instagram showcasing the extravagant purchase, which has since drawn mixed reactions.

In the video, Thakore is seen entering a Louis Vuitton store, stating, "I think my dog has something to pick up." He then reveals the "Bone Trunk," a bone-shaped, hard-shell suitcase complete with a varnished wooden tray and two bowls. The video’s caption read, "Aspen's always spending money like there's no tomorrow. $20k Louis Vuitton bone trunk."

The post quickly went viral, with many users expressing shock and disbelief. Some criticized the CEO’s indulgence, questioning the morality of spending such a large sum on a pet accessory when pressing issues like poverty and animal welfare exist. Comments ranged from disbelief to sharp criticism, with one user remarking, "Imagine how far $20k would go at an animal rescue." Others viewed it as a reflection of societal excess, calling it a "grotesque illustration of what's wrong in society."

However, Thakore also found support from some users, who defended his right to spend his wealth as he pleased. One commenter noted the irony of criticism coming from people who indulge in expensive gadgets, writing, "It's funny how many condemn this spending yet think nothing of buying an $800 iPhone without considering charity."