Drug safety revisited

If the U.S. Supreme Court were in the business of compensating victims of medical error because of the poignancy of their plight, Diana Levine wouldn't be in suspense about whether the justices would rule in her favor. Levine, a guitarist and pianist from Vermont, developed gangrene after an anti-nausea drug was injected -- and hit an artery instead of a vein. Her arm had to be amputated, and Levine wants the court to uphold a verdict ordering the manufacturer of the drug to pay her $6.7 million.

November 10, 2008