U.S. actor Quaid backs drugmaker liability suits

By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON, May 14 (Reuters) - U.S. actor Dennis Quaid urged the U.S. Congress on Wednesday to preserve patients' rights to sue drugmakers for injuries, recounting how his newborn twins nearly died from an accidental drug overdose.

Quaid and his wife have sued Baxter International Inc (BAX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the maker of the blood-thinning drug given to his twins in a hospital last year. The couple argued that the product was stored in bottles with confusing labels that contributed to the overdose and should have been recalled.

At a congressional hearing, the actor said victims of harm from medicines should be able to seek damages in state court. Drug and medical-device manufacturers argue that U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval should preempt state liability suits in many instances, and the Supreme Court backed that view in a recent device case.

"I believe if preemption of lawsuits is allowed to prevail, it will basically make all of us, the public, uninformed and uncompensated lab rats," Quaid said at a House of Representatives committee hearing.

He urged Congress to pass legislation to protect patients' ability to sue drugmakers if the Supreme Court further restricts the suits.

Quaid said his twins were two weeks old when they were twice given 1,000 times the recommended dose of Baxter's heparin blood-thinner while being treated for an infection. Their blood "basically turned to the consistency of water," causing massive bleeding, he said.

About 40 hours later, clotting started returning to normal and they recovered, although long-term effects are unknown, Quaid said.

Baxter cited preemption in its motion to dismiss his lawsuit, Quaid said. A Baxter spokeswoman had no immediate comment.