Health Highlights: March 27, 2007

Mar. 23 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors of HealthDay:

U.S. Presidential Spokesman's Cancer Returns

U.S. Presidential spokesman Tony Snow's cancer has returned and has spread, the White House announced Tuesday.

In 2005, Snow was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery and six months of chemotherapy, the Associated Press reported. Last year, a small growth was found in his lower right pelvic area.

The growth was removed Tuesday and doctors said that it was cancerous and that the cancer had spread to Snow's liver.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that Snow, 51, was resting comfortably after the surgery to remove the growth and that he had vowed to aggressively fight the disease with an as-yet-to-be-determined course of treatment, the AP reported.

-----

Merck Cleared in Vioxx Lawsuit

A jury in Madison County, Ill., has decided in favor of drug maker Merck in a lawsuit over the painkiller drug Vioxx.

Popular Reads

Iran live updates: House GOP leaders pull Iran war powers vote

• May 22, 6:47 AM

NASCAR champion Kyle Busch dies at the age of 41: 'Sudden and tragic'

• May 21, 6:57 PM

Hantavirus updates: Canadian cruise ship passenger tests positive

• May 17, 4:26 PM

The jury deliberated for two days before announcing its verdict Tuesday in the case of a 52-year-old woman who died of a heart attack. The jury agreed with Merck's lawyers, who argued that Patty Schwaller's sudden death was more likely caused by her weight and other health issues than by Vioxx, the Associated Press reported.

Schwaller had taken Vioxx for about 20 months. In the lawsuit, her widower claimed that the drug contributed to his wife's death and that Merck failed to adequately warn people taking the drug that it increased the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Vioxx was pulled off the market in 2004 after Merck's own research showed the drug increased the risk of heart attack and stroke. So far, 15 Vioxx lawsuits have been tried and Merck has won 10 of those cases, the AP reported. The company faces thousands of lawsuits.

-----

No Smoking While Driving in New Delhi

In what's believed to be a first for any major city worldwide, the High Court in New Delhi has banned smoking while driving in India's capital city, the Associated Press reported.