Merck review absolves management of misconduct

Merck spent $21 million to commission a review of its actions regarding the Vioxx debacle,and got a 179-page report that absolved its management of any wrongdoing and earned scoffs from a legion of critics. The 20-month, 1,700-page review concluded that the company's senior management acted with integrity and never intended to misguide anyone about Vioxx's safety. Lawyers and their clients who are squaring off against the company aren't likely to buy into that conclusion.

- read the Los Angeles Times report