Editors’ note: Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. This week’s animation focuses on the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on generic-drug warnings. Last month, in a 5-4 decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the conservative majority on the court ruled that the manufacturers of generic drugs cannot be sued for failing to update drug warning labels to reflect newly discovered dangers and side effects. (Name-brand drug manufacturers are liable for failing to update warnings and can be held accountable for it in court).
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the dissenters, said, “As a result of today’s decision, whether a consumer harmed by inadequate warnings can obtain relief turns solely on the happenstance of whether her pharmacist filled her prescription with a brand-name or generic drug.”
