Drug Maker From China Pleads Guilty
GeneScience Pharmaceutical, a Chinese company, and its chief executive “plead guilty on Wednesday to federal charges of illegally distributing human growth hormone in the United States, capping a three-year investigation targeting the company” (10/6, NY Times, D. Wilson). The market for illegal drugs of this type is largely within professional sports.
The case was heard in the United States District Court in Providence, Rhode Island. As a result of the guilty plea, Defendants must pay over $7 million in criminal forfetiures, as well as$3 million to a “Clean Competition Fund” to support drug-free sports. Additionally, the company founder, Lei Jin, was sentenced to five years of probation.
As a medical malpractice lawyer in Chicago, I am hopeful that the guilty plea results in GeneScience ceasing to distribute illegal drugs in the United States. The demand for these illegal drugs must be cut off, or it is likely that GeneScience or other similar companies will continue to capitalize on the opportunity for profits. Additionally, it is incredible dangerous to consume drugs form the black market in general, but especially those coming in from foreign countries. Although human growth hormone is legal in the United States when prescribed by a physician, there is no guarantee that the illegally imported product is up to the health and safety standards of the United States.
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