Arthur Hailey - Strong Medicine

Celia had taken the advice to heart and cautioned herself to remember it in any exchange with Dennis Donahue, whom she already detested. Also accompanying Celia was Vincent Lord, now seated on the other side of Quentin. While Celia would make a statement on behalf of Felding-Roth and then be cross-examined, the research director's role was solely to answer questions if required. Senator Donahue concluded his remarks, paused briefly, then announced, "Our. first witness is Mrs. Celia Jordan, president of Felding-Roth Pharmaceuticals of New Jersey. Mrs. Jordan, do you wish to introduce your associates?" "Yes, Senator.”

In a few words, Celia introduced Quentin and Lord. Donahue nodded.”Mr. Quentin we know well. Dr. Lord, we are glad to have you with us. Mrs. Jordan, you have a statement, I believe. Please proceed.”

Celia remained seated at the witness table as she began, speaking into a microphone in front of her. "Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee: First and foremost my company wishes to express its great sorrow and sympathy for those families which have been part of what Senator Donahue, a few moments ago, described correctly as a worldwide tragedy. While the full scientific evidence is not yet in, and may take years to assemble, it now appears certain that the drug Montayne was responsible for damage to foetuses in wombs of pregnant women -in a very small section of the total population, and in circumstances impossible to foresee during the extensive testing of that drug, originally in France, later in other countries, and before its official approval by FDA for use in the United States.”

Celia's voice was clear, but low-keyed and deliberately not forceful. Her statement had been carefully drafted and worked on by several people, though principally by herself and Childers Quentin. She stayed with the text as she read, merely adding an occasional phrase where appropriate. "Something else my company wishes to point out is that it has, in all matters concerning Montayne-at every stage of testing, distribution, and reporting-complied with the law. Indeed, when serious doubts were raised about the drug, my company went beyond requirements of the law, and withdrew Montayne voluntarily, without waiting for a decision by the FDA.”

Celia continued, "I now wish to go back and review the origins of Montayne in France, where it was developed by Laboratoires Gironde-Chimie, a company of excellent reputation and with a long history of successful...”

As well as being precise, the report being delivered was impersonal. That, too, had been decided after discussions at Felding-Roth headquarters and at Childers Quentin's offices in Washington. Quentin had asked Celia, "How do you wish to handle the matter of your resignation over Montayne?" "Not at all," she had replied.”My resignation was personal, a matter of instinct and conscience. Now that I'm back, I'm representing the company, reporting what the company did.”

"And where is your conscience in all that?" "Still intact, still in place," she responded sharply.”If I'm asked about my resignation I'll answer honestly. It's simply that I don't propose to bring it up, simply to make myself look good.”

Celia had reminded Quentin, too, of the lack of any scientific grounds for her resignation-a weakness she had been aware of at the time, and her reason for not going public. She now informed the Senate subcommittee, "No doubts whatever about the safety of Montayne arose until a report from Australia in June 1976. Even then, there seemed no reason for concern because an Australian government investigation...”

Step by step she traced the Montayne story. The recital took forty minutes, at which point Celia concluded, "My company has complied with committee subpoenas by supplying documents confirming all that I have said. We remain ready to cooperate in any other way, and to respond to questions.”

The questions began at once, the first from the committee counsel, Stanley Urbach, long-faced and thin-lipped, who gave the impression of smiling only on rare occasions. "Mrs. Jordan, you referred to the first Australian report that raised possible doubts about Montayne. That would be seven to eight months before your company placed the drug on sale in the United States. Is that correct?" She calculated mentally.”Yes.”

"Mentioned in your statement were two other adverse reports, one from France, another from Spain, both also occurring before your company's U.S. marketing of Montayne. Again correct?" "Not entirely, Mr. Urbach. You called them adverse reports. What they were-at that point-were allegations which had been investigated by Laboratoires Gironde-Chimie and declared unsubstantiated.”

The lawyer made an impatient gesture.”If we are quibbling about words, let me ask you this: Were the reports favorable?" "No, and perhaps I can save us time. In the pharmaceutical business 'adverse reports' has a specific meaning. In that sense, those from France and Spain were not.”

Urbach sighed.”Would the witness settle for 'critical reports?” "I suppose so.”

Celia already sensed this was going to be difficult, and that she was in for a hard time. Senator Donahue cut in.”The point counsel is making is perfectly clear. Were you people-your company-aware of those three reports prior to Montayne's being placed on sale here?" "Yes, we were.”

"Yet you still went ahead and marketed the drug?" "Senator, with any new drug there are always negative opinions. All of them must be examined carefully and assessed...”

"Please, Mrs, Jordan. I am not asking for a lecture on the practices of the pharmaceutical industry. My question requires a simple 'yes' or 'no.' I repeat: Knowing about those reports, did your company go ahead and sell that drug to pregnant American women?" Celia hesitated. "We are waiting, Mrs. Jordan.”

"Yes, Senator, but...”

"The answer 'yes' will be sufficient.”

Donahue nodded to Urbach.”Carry on.”

"Would it not have been better and more prudent," the subcommittee counsel asked, "for Felding-Roth to have done more investigating of those reports and delayed the launching of Montayne?" Celia thought wryly: that had been her argument which, later, caused her to resign. Remembering her role here, she answered, "With hindsight, yes. Of course. But at the time, the company was proceeding on scientific advice.”

"Whose advice?" She considered before answering. It had, of course, been Lord's advice, but she wanted to be fair.”Our director of research, Dr. Lord, but he was acting on what seemed authentic data from Gironde-Chimic.”

"We will ask Dr. Lord about that later. Meanwhile....”

Urbach consulted notes. Did the decision to go ahead, and not to delay Montayne despite those adverse... excuse me, critical reports have any relation to anticipated profits?" "Well, profits are always a factor "Mrs. Jordan! Yes or no?" Inwardly, Celia sighed. K`hat was the good? Every question was a trap, a contrived progression toward a preconceived conclusion. She conceded, "Yes.”

"Were those profits critical to your company?" "It was believed so, yes.”

"What were those profits expected to be?" The remorseless, loaded questions continued. Yet, she found time to ask in a corner of her mind: Were they so unfairly loaded when touching so very close to truth? Wasn't there a time, not long ago, when she would have asked those same questions herself? And wasn't it ironic that she was appearing here in place of Sam Hawthorne who ought to have had these questions put to him, but was dead? For the first time since Hawaii, she was reminded of Andrew's cautioning words: "If you go back... the Montayne mess and responsibility will rub off on you.” As happened so often, Andrew had been right. Her ordeal was interrupted by a lunch recess, Senator Donahue informing her, "Mrs. Jordan, you may stand down, but please be available for more questions later.”