J&J unsuccessful in barring HLI shareholder resolution from ballot

Johnson and Johnson Shareholders to Vote on Resolution Challenging Safety of its Own Products

J&J unsuccessful in barring HLI shareholder resolution from ballot

FRONT ROYAL, Va., March 7, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (J&J), one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, has failed to get a resolution offered by Human Life International (HLI) stricken from its upcoming shareholder ballot vote.

The resolution, presented for consideration by HLI representative Thomas Strobhar, asks for J&J's employment policy to be amended to explicitly bar discrimination against applicants based on their health status, with a specific emphasis placed on women who may have breast cancer. The resolution would "...reassure applicants that disclosing their health status, whether privately or publicly, will not hinder their application."

"One would think J&J would be more sensitive to women who have the courage to make public their struggle with breast cancer," said Mr. Strobhar. "This is especially ironic when some of J&J's own products may be responsible for their affliction."

Strobhar refers here to a landmark 2006 study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, also briefly noted in the resolution, which shows a very strong connection between the type of hormonal contraceptives produced by J&J and breast cancer. From the resolution: "This analysis noted that 21 out of 23 recent studies demonstrated a 44% combined increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer if women took oral contraceptives prior to their first term pregnancy. This result was significant at the 99% confidence level (i.e., one of the highest levels of statistical certainty known in the medical field)."

The resolution will receive a hearing at J&J's annual shareholder meeting on April 28. HLI has submitted other resolutions to J&J challenging their support of Planned Parenthood. This is the first resolution ever proposed at any company which addresses the link between breast cancer and steroidal contraceptives.

About HLI: Human Life International: Pro-Life Missionaries to the World. Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest international pro-life organization and has affiliates and associates in over 100 countries on six continents. www.hli.org