The Johnson & Johnson Files

Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary launched the much-hyped ASR hip replacement implants in 2003. But these implants were faulty and seven years on, were recalled for leaking toxic metals into patients’ bodies. The recall forced the pharma giant to make a settlement of 2.5 billion dollars to the victims in the US. In India, the story took a darker turn – most patients learned about the recall only after a frustrating delay. Largely from humble backgrounds, they were left to suffer in silence as they bore mounting medical bills to deal with the after-effects.