Despite safety problems, Vioxx still in demand

Maybe some people still don't know what's bad for them. Patients who once dependent on Vioxx for arthritis relief are still lobbying Merck to get the drug back on the market--despite the documented risk of heart attacks, strokes, even death. Consumer advocates say it might be a case of rose-colored hindsight; patients convinced only Vioxx can help them may simply have exaggerated memories of the drug's effects. But patients say they simply want to make their own choices. Don't smokers say the same thing?

- here's the report from the Star-Ledger