From: M Anglese Tucker
Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2020 9:33 PM
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: another question

Professor Block,

I wanted to ask you, since you defend the undefendable, is “Big Pharma” to blame for the opioid crisis? In a Libertarian world, could pharmaceutical companies be sued, like they are being now, for lying to doctors and patients about the effects of opioids? Is the RICO law of 1970 a ‘just’ law?

From a recently published book on the opioid crisis:

“A third reaction to the opioid crisis was the dawning realization that it was self-inflicted– caused in large part by the companies manufacturing and marketing opioids.” The book goes on to say that Americans are so good at being litigious and that “many people are watching to see how much money is actually extracted [in class action suits] from Big Pharma, and what other limits may be imposed on pharmaceutical companies.”

Thank you, and best regards,

—

Melissa Anglese Tucker

Dear Melissa:

Lying to any customer of any product, pharm included, is fraud. A criminal act. If they did this, they are guilty.

Is “Big Pharma” to blame for the opioid crisis? I don’t know. This depends upon the facts of the matter, about which I have no special knowledge.

Best regards,

Walter

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