As Doctors Write Prescriptions, Drug Company Writes a Check

NY Times ^ | June 27, 2004 | GARDINER HARRIS

[hocndoc]

Well, flip! I missed the Golden Age of Medicare *and* the $10,000 checks from Schering!

[Xenalyte]

Masochist.

Lucky for you I'm not a sadist. Hurts, don't it?

[Lazamataz]

Hurts, don't it?

Hertz Donut?

[neverdem]

Both Ativan and Xanax are benzodiazepines. What's so disagreeable Xanax, too potent, too long lasting, combination of the two? I'm curious.

[neverdem]

Well, flip! I missed the Golden Age of Medicare *and* the $10,000 checks from Schering!

IIRC, some docs got 6 figure checks. I got the impression these docs are subspecialists, maybe sub-sub, as in hepatologist.

[neverdem]

What's so disagreeable Xanax

was supposed to be

What's so disagreeable about Xanax

[Oatka]

This happens ALL the time! This is NOT new news. . . However it has been going on for AGES!
and
Those checks and others, some of them said to be for six-figure sums, are under investigation by federal prosecutors . . .

Agreed. They should also go after the three-figure sums as well. My wife was a bank teller and reported a constant stream of doctors' financial managers depositing three to ten checks a week for up to $500 each from various pharmaceutical companies. A couple of them told her it was "reciprocation" for the doc prescribing a particular brand, which is why most stayed away from generic prescriptions.

We made a point to DEMAND generics and most often they were grudgingly supplied. It used to be that we were bodies to be healed, now we are merely sources of revenue.

[Polybius]

My experience as a physician in practice for 31 years exactly. I have never been offered/given anything like what is described in this article.

All the gorgeous drug company reps with short skirts and low cut blouses ever offer me is a night of wild sex but, as an honorable man, I always politely decline. ;-)

[FormerACLUmember]

ALTHOUGH (I swear) Lilly sent in two of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen as Viagra reps!

[pitinkie]

All we get are free pens!

[Xenalyte]

For some reason it got its hooks into me. I was taking two a day instead of the recommended one-half as needed. I was a zombie, and when I quit I was a nervous wreck for a solid week.