BOSTON (AP) — Beacon Hill lawmakers are planning to hold public hearings on the meningitis outbreak and the oversight of compounding pharmacies in Massachusetts, one of which has been linked to the outbreak.
Senate President Therese Murray released a joint statement with other Senate leaders Thursday calling the outbreak "tragic and increasingly troublesome."
Murray said lawmakers don't want to interfere with ongoing investigations, but want to look at what state laws and regulations need to be in place to guarantee the public's health and safety.
Murray said lawmakers also want to make sure those Massachusetts officials charged with protecting the public interest have acted properly and have the capability and motivation to do so in the future.
A schedule for the hearings hasn't been set.
The outbreak has killed 24 and sickened 328 in 18 states..
