Would You Trust A Doctor Who Got Kickbacks To Prescribe Your Drugs?

Coach is Right ^ | 1/20/15 | Michael D. Shaw

[Oldpuppymax]

I’m thinking, “Maybe not.” Yet, this sort of unethical practice goes on all the time. According to physician/activist Roy Poses, MD, there were at least four significant settlements of such cases during the last half of 2014 alone. And, by January 9th of our new year, another high profile case has already been settled. Officially, it is known as U.S. ex rel. Fragoules v. Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Civil Action No. 10-10420 (D. Mass.).

In accordance with the disposition of the case, the US subsidiary of Japanese pharmaceutical firm Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. will pay $39 million to the US federal government and state Medicaid agencies, to settle claims that it paid doctors kickbacks to prescribe certain of its products. Daiichi Sanyo also agreed to adhere to a so-called corporate integrity agreement, whereby a number of compliance programs are instituted to prevent similar abuses from occurring in the future.

The drugs in question are Welchol (cholesterol-lowering); and Benicar, Azor, and Tribenzor (antihypertensives).

Let’s examine some of the legal elements of this case. “Fragoules” is Kathleen Fragoules, who was employed by Daiichi Sankyo as a sales representative from approximately March, 1997 until January, 2010. The case was filed in March, 2010, and is a qui tam action.

“Qui tam” is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur,” meaning “Who sues on behalf of the King as well as for himself.” Such actions are brought by an informer or “relator.” Usually, these cases are filed under some statute which establishes a penalty for particular violations, and monetary damages are split between the relator and the state or other institution. In popular parlance, these relators are known as “whistle-blowers.”

Thus, “U.S. ex rel. Fragoules” denotes that the Feds have instituted the action...

[Morpheus2009]

So basically, drug companies pay money to the government to be the new corrupt enterprise.

[Awgie]

As a Home Care Physical Therapist, I am on the front lines of this calamity. The old folks I see are being victimized by OVER PRESCRIPTION of PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMICALS.

Unwanted side effects as well as drug interactions produce a witches brew of tragic proportions.

If you are taking more then 3 or 4 “medications” you are likely to run to your doctor complaining about symptoms such as head ache, stomach ache, muscle weakness, Loss of balance, dizziness, insomnia...on and on!

Well guess what...It’s not because there is something wrong with you. It is because you are eating powerful chemicals that your body can’t deal with.

So does your doctor try to get to the source of your new complaint...NO! He just adds on a new “Medication,” to deal with the toxic noxious side effects from the previous “Medicines.”

I am telling you here and now. This is a crime! Someone should go to jail!

[gattaca]

bmp

[Kirkwood]

So you want MORE govt control over healthcare? Seriously? Is that what you really want? Arguing for more govt control and limitations over your healthcare is absolutely the wrong direction.

[CyberAnt]

This issue is exactly what I’m dealing with now. I have chosen a new doctor - because of ObamaCare - primarily for the reason that my old doctor is way too expensive. Sadly, I have to leave his wonderful care.

I have a rare genetic issue whereby most prescription drugs do not like me. A couple of these drugs have caused to me suffer extreme (life-threatening) side effects. I always go to WebMD and check for side effects before taking any medication.

Recently signed up with a well-known all inclusive medical clinic; chose my doctor; and began the process of trying to inform him of my issue with prescription drugs. There is a warning on some medications which says: “Rare but serious side effect, a swelling of the lips, tongue or throat”.

I’ve been there; done that. Even after I explained it to the doctor, both he and a bone specialist, prescribed medications which had the aforementioned warning. I was in shock when I realized they didn’t give a hoot if the meds were going to make my tongue swell up to the point I could not eat and would probably choke to death .. they didn’t even consult each other regarding this issue.

So, I stopped taking their phone calls .. they are in a panic because I refuse to take a med that might cause me to choke to death. I’m letting them stew about it for awhile.

It’s been a couple of weeks now, and I finally got an email from them telling me I should consult a “Wellness” person who will guide me to a personal plan for my health.

I’m really seriously changing doctors within the system (because it includes vision/dental/hearing), to see if I can find one with a brain.

[cripplecreek]

My ex wife was a PA.

Drug reps are salesmen who will sell at any cost and unscrupulous doctors are not rare.

[Dr. Thorne]

At one time I worked as a temp for Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. To make a long story short, they were convicted of bribing doctors to over-prescribe this dangerous drug to people who really didn't need it or didn't need as much. Here's an example:

My sister was a doctor in West Virginia. One day a man walked into her rural clinic for a follow-up after back surgery. He proudly showed her the prescription another doctor has written him for OxyContin to deal with the post-surgery pain. He was proud that he had not filled the prescription and just toughed it out.

The prescription was for 150 pills. Normal dosage would be 28 pills - one pill twice a day for a maximum of two weeks.

My sister was shocked. She knew the street value of these pills and that the initial prescription would be paid by Medicare. She asked the man if he understood that he could buy himself a nice used car for what this one piece of paper was worth.

I dealt with death records at Purdue since they were being sued by the families of people who had died from OxyContin overdose. In my opinion, Purdue knew exactly what they were doing - pushing doctors to over-prescribe OxyContin knowing that the pills would end up with their REAL customers - addicts.

[vpintheak]

I agree 100%!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

It isn’t medicine anymore. It is crony capitalism.

It is a system designed to promote profits of drug and device companies and to keep politicians in power.

It is a revolving door between the FDA and drug companies.

It is a system that requires a billion dollar expenditure before a drug can be released that keeps out any other competing alternative.

It is a system that approves those expensive drugs and later recalls many that met “the standard of proof” because they are maiming or killing people.

It is yet one more system of a broken government that Republicans and Democrats both favor.

[darkangel82]

No and they should be RICO’d and sent to jail for it.

[Rusty0604]

And anytime a child presents any sort of personality or acts like a child the schools are quick to diagnose some mental illness and prescribe drugs to them. The schools get extra money for a special needs child; I wonder if that has any connection?

[Revelation 911]

last year about the time a publication came out suggesting statins as preventive, my Primary phys suggested them (my cholesterol was normal)..I rattled off a list of 5 or 6 side effects and said no thanks & to enjoy her trip to the carribean...she got kinda pissed lol

[sodpoodle]

For years, worked for several physicians and trusted them implicitly. Something has definitely changed - recent experience is that most physicians have an RX pad or laptop ready to send you to the pharmacy.

Beware - before filling any prescription - check the internet for patient experiences, side effects, withdrawals. etc., Thankfully, I checked out Zoloft after the first 30 days - will never take another anti-depressant - will use my God given brain to find peace and joy.

For a scary read - check these sites.

http://injury-law.freeadvice.com/injury-law/drug-toxic_chemicals/zoloft.htm
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080613123644AAxtQBo

[minnesota_bound]

Those pharmaceutical reps are pretty.

[goodnesswins]

And, the FDA supports big PHARMA by working in collusion WITH them on their studies.

[grania]

Would the problem be less awful if people had to pay for their pharmaceuticals? I know so many people who take stuff for two reasons:

1. "it's covered"

2.Health professionals don't talk to patients about improving lifestyle and nutrition choices, about accepting a little pain or imperfect sleeping patterns or whatever as one ages. It would be real nice if every discussion with the patient involved talking about choosing not to get pharmaceuticals or an operation or whatever.

[MarchonDC09122009]

RE: Pharma colludes with FDA, and drug side-effects -
Your concerns are completely warranted.
FDA allows Pharma to cherry pick and provide as test evidence their best drug efficacy studies. Drug study scientists are paid a sizeable stipend to ensure testing outcome is favorable.
For side-effects: always request the physician’s version of the PDR efficacy and side effect data for the drug in question.

[captain_dave]

What is worse is that established medicine only treats symptoms instead of seeking to cure disease, usually with expensive, harmful and sometimes addictive drugs.

[CyberAnt]

Actually, you can find lots of scriptures regarding the word “peace”, and also “sleep”.

After bathing myself in all those scriptures for several months, I now sleep like a log .. even an ambulance coming to the apartments does not wake me up.