Breast-implant ruling sends a message
Kaiser, J.
Science 275(5296): 21
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-8075 PMID: 8999526 Document Number: 473533
On December 17, 1996, Robert E. Jones, a federal judge in Oregon, ruled that evidence connecting silicone breast implants to autoimmune disorders in around 70 women was too weak to be presented to a jury. Jones took the unusual step of assembling a panel of experts to screen the scientific evidence for him before the trial began. Legal experts say that, if the ruling holds up, it will have an adverse effect on billions of dollars worth of implant lawsuits across America. Some scientists and lawyers also believe that the screening procedure may be used as a model for other high-profile cases where scientific evidence is in dispute.