JCP Dietmembers: Government must give up appealing drug-induced hepatitis cases

   The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers’ group on August 2 made representations to Health Minister Yanagisawa Hakuo to accept the July 31 Nagoya District Court judgment in the lawsuit over drug-induced hepatitis C which recognizes the responsibility of the government as well as pharmaceutical companies for the disease, and refrain from appealing to a higher court.

   In a meeting with a health ministry official, House of Councilors member Koike Akira and other JCP lawmakers criticized the ministry for consistently refusing to meet with the plaintiffs in the suit.

   “Since the plaintiffs are exhausted physically and emotionally, the ministry should immediately meet with them and start consultations toward an overall settlement of the case,” Koike said.                - Akahata, August 3, 2007