European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 3, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 3, 1993 . Fail to from wire reports Washington Donna Sha Lala the Secretary of health and human services met monday with vaccine manufacturers but one got no commitment to hold Down prices As president Clinton has demanded. The meeting resulted from Clin vaccine Price tones assault on the prices drug companies charge and on the profits they earn. In a speech feb. 12, he said the companies were pursuing Quot profits at the expense of our children Quot and he instructed Shala la to meet with pharmaceutical executives to discuss the Price and distribution of vaccine. Shalala and her lawyers met monday with several Industry executives including or. R. Gordon Douglas jr., president of the vaccine division of Merck amp co. Ronald j. Saldarini president of Lederle praxis biological a division of the american Cyan amid co. And David j. Williams president of Connaught laboratories. Also monday the pharmaceutical Industry launched a massive and Campaign defending drug prices and denying they cause spiralling health costs. The pharmaceutical manufacturers association took out full Page ads in 40 major newspapers. The ads totalling More than $500,000, Are written As an open letter to the american people who Quot have been hearing so much negative criticism of  the administration says the Cost of a full set of recommended childhood vaccines Rose to $244 in 1992, from $23 in 1962. When asked if she accepted Merck s assertion that 80 percent of the Price increase had resulted from new Federal excise taxes and from the addition of two new vaccines Shalala replied Quot no i Don  administration officials have not estimated How much of the Price increase is attributable to these factors. Douglas insisted that his arithmetic was Correct. Quot facts Are facts Quot he said adding that the data came from the government. The executives also said that Federal antitrust Laws prevented them from us engaging in detailed discussions of Secretary prices among themselves. However Douglas said in an interview that Merck was unlikely to raise prices for its main childhood vaccine which protects against measles mumps and rubella while the company was holding talks with the government. The administration and the drug companies will hold More talks in a few weeks. Administration officials say that if the companies disregard the president s warning and. Raise prices Clinton May propose sweeping changes in the Purchase and distribution of vaccines. Under one proposal being seriously considered by the administration the Federal government and the states would buy up All childhood vaccines at a discount then distribute them free to clinics and doctors. The drug companies vehemently oppose that proposal. They acknowledge that 40 percent to 60 percent of preschool children do not get the full Batty in of recommended shots but they maintain that a government Purchase program would not solve the problem. In his speech feb. 12, Clinton called vaccine prices Quot shocking Quot and asserted Quot Ine pharmaceutical Industry is spending $1 billion More each year on advertising and lobbying than it does on developing new and better  rejecting such criticism Douglas said monday Quot we think our vaccines Are reasonably priced. We already give a 50 percent discount to the Federal government and the states which account for 55 percent of All sales of our measles mumps and rubella vaccine. That is enough to cover All poor people in this country with free vaccine purchased by  Phillip Areeda an antitrust expert at Harvard Law school said that there were serious Legal risks when drug company executives Dis cussed Knees with government officials even when the discussions concern a possible limit on prices. Quot for them to meet the Secretary and hear her statement of chastisement about drug prices presents no antitrust problems Quot said Areeda. Quot if any one firm says it will re examine its prices in the Light of the a admonition that would childhood diseases number of cases in the . A 1972 ai982 �1992 mumps 74,215 f 5,270 2,460 polio 31 11, 0 pertussis tetanus diphtheria 152 l2. A a rubella 25,507 j 2�325 148 measles f a 32,275 u 1,714 2,200 source Center Tor disease control end prevention Apik Gude h. Faith also be of. But if they were to agree among themselves As to the prices they charge that would be a very serious antitrust problem. And if they said collectively that they would charge Only 10 percent above costs that could be an illegal maximum Price fixing  Kevorkian waiting Detroit apr or. Jack Kevorkian won t assist in another suicide until a court rules on an attempt to Block a new Michigan Law Banning the practice an attorney for the retired pathologist said monday the american civil liberties Union sued monday to overturn the Law Banning assisted suicide saying it violates the right to privacy and the right to due process John Truscott a spokesman for gov. John Engler said he was confident the Law which went into effect thursday would stand up to a Legal Challenge. Elizabeth Gleicher an Acle of Michigan attorney said the group will go to state court within seven Days seeking an injunction to Stop enforcement of the Law. San Diego apr two undercover officers nabbed a Man suspected of lewd behaviour by shooting from the lips a with a kiss. The officers a Man and a woman who Are strictly business partners were in Marian Bear Park one night last week posing As a romantic couple when they noticed a Man watching. The Man approached and within a few feet spoke up. The officers thinking fast embraced and kissed a few times to see what the Man would do. For Legal decision the lawsuit was filed on behalf of two cancer patients an acquaintance and seven health professionals. The cancer patients said the Law interferes with their ability to choose death Over prolonged suffering. Quot this cruel and merciless Law like the terminal disease 1 have violates me Quot said Teresa Hobbins 42, who was diagnosed six years ago with the blood disease multiple myeloma another plaintiff or. Kenneth Weinberger of Wayne state University said he believes the Law will interfere with a doctor s ability to prescribe adequate pain medication for patients. Weinberger also said he supports assisted suicide in some cases. According to their Boss capt. Leslie lord the smooching was Quot Only in an affectionate Way on the Cheek not soap opera style  the officers own account however practically steamed up the arrest report describing the Man making it Clear he wanted to see the pair make love. During their conversation the Man became increasingly excited exposed himself and grabbed the female officers  a when the officers identified themselves and made the arrest. A  a a the stars and stripes a Pago 7 mom charged with leaving epileptic 6-year-old alone from wire reports Aliquippa a. A an Aliquippa woman has been jailed on $50,000 bail after being charged with leaving her 6-Ycar-old epileptic son Home alone for four Days. Charlotte Emerick 35, was arrested at her Mother s Home in a trailer court in Aliquippa about 20 Miles Northwest of Pittsburgh about 7 30 . Sunday. She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and sent to the Beaver county jail. Police found the boy about 9 . Sunday after neighbors called to say he was in the apartment in the linear Terrace housing project without supervision. The boy told police that he had been alone for four Days. He had not eaten and had no shoes. Police said the child who takes medication for epileptic seizures was placed in the custody of Foster parents. Congregation defies order Portland Ore. A a Small Parish that broke away from the episcopal Church missed a deadline to move out of its Church building monday Ana its Leader said the group has no plans to leave. Episcopal Bishop Robert Ladehoff had ordered the Rev. Charles h. Osborn and the Parish Board of St Mark s Church to turn Over All Parish records. Financial assets and keys by monday. But Osborn defied the order saying Quot we have already advised the Bishop by letter that we have no intention of  spokeswoman for Ladehoff said the Bishop would take no immediate action against the 180-member Parish. Robert Mcminamin an attorney for the Parish said the Church has no claim on the property because a parishioner purchased the building and donated it to the congregation Osborn is Archdeacon for the West coast diocese of the anglican Church in America a dissident denomination founded last year by episcopalians disenchanted with their Church efforts to ordain women priest Sand allow homosexual marriages have upset some within the 2.5 million member episcopal Church. Airliner turns Back los Angeles a dc-10 with More than 270 people aboard was forced to return to los Angeles International Airport on monday after the Pilot reported problems with the Landing gear. American airlines flight 1500 left los Angeles for Dallas about 4 . Almost 30 minutes into the flight the Pilot contacted the Tower about possible complications involving the plane s Landing gear Airport spokeswoman Pat Schonberger said. The plane touched Down about 4 50 . There were no immediate reports of injuries to any of the 272 passengers or Crew members. The fire department dispatched an ambulance a crash unit Ana three foam machines As a precaution. Parents charged in deaths Detroit a the parents of seven children killed in a fire after they d been left Home alone were charged monday with manslaughter. Sherese Williams 34, and Leroy Lyons 35, Are charged with Quot Gross negligence that directly caused or resulted in those deaths Quot Wayne county prosecutor John of hair said. Quot the charges Are based on the Paramount Legal responsibility of every Parent a which society must demand every Parent to perform a for the safety and welfare of nil or her children Quot o hair said. The parents had been gone about an hour feb. 17 when their House caught fire the seven children Ages 7 months to 9 years were trapped inside by Security bars on the windows and padlocked doors. They died of smoke inhalation. Investigators blamed the fire on attempts by Lyons before he left the House to thaw what he thought were Frozen water pipes. The City had shut off water to the House earlier that Day because of Bills overdue since 1991. The couple s attorney Leodis Elliot of Detroit said he was not surprised at the charges. But he said Williams and Lyons Felt Quot somewhat shocked to have to go through this when they Haven to had a Chance to Deal with their  he said he did t expect the couple to surrender to police before  the children a funerals were Friday. Officers Seal suspect s arrest with a kiss