Addicted to secrecy

摘要

Sealed drug documents should be opened up. In the course of lengthy, expensive litigation over drug safety in the United States, opposing sets of lawyers often form unholy alliances. These cases are frequently settled before reaching court, and the two sides agree to confidentiality orders being placed on any drug-company documents to which they have been granted access. This suits the courts, which want parties to cases under their jurisdiction to gain access to as much information as possible; the drug companies, who want to keep most of the data confidential; and the plaintiffs' lawyers, who want to win a good deal for their clients. But it may not suit the wider public interest.