Posted on 12/22/2004 8:53:01 AM PST by Mike Fieschko
America's pharmaceutical industry is putting out an advisory about the latest potential threat to its health: Michael Moore.Moore, the filmmaker whose targets have included General Motors ("Roger & Me"), the gun lobby (the Oscar-winning "Bowling for Columbine") and President Bush ("Fahrenheit 9/11") has now set his sights on the healthcare industry, including insurance companies, HMOs, the Food and Drug Administration — and drug companies.
[snip]
Rumors are already flying within the industry about Moore's moviemaking tactics. Moore, it is said, has hired actors to portray pharmaceutical salesmen who offer gifts to doctors who promote their products. There's also word that he's offered physicians $50,000 apiece to install secret cameras in their offices in an effort to document alleged corruption.
In September, employees said that Moore was shoving a microphone at people at GlaxoSmithKline, [Rachel] Bloom [executive director of corporate communications for AstraZeneca] notes, even though he was in town only for a radio appearance.
"We have six business centers nationwide, all of which report 'sightings,' " Bloom said. "Michael Moore is becoming an urban legend."
Tentatively titled "Sicko," Moore's film will probably be released in the first half of 2006, sometime between the Sundance and Cannes film festivals. No deal has yet been reached, but an announcement is expected after the new year. [snip]
Reached at his home in Michigan, the director declined to say whether he's hired actors to portray pharmaceutical salesmen and denied paying doctors to help him install secret cameras. ("I didn't need to. So many doctors have offered to help, for free, in an effort to expose the system.") He does admit to hanging around hospitals, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies, including two that have not issued internal alerts.
(Excerpt) Read more at calendarlive.com ...
Cut off that fat blimps blood pressure medication and let his arteries balloon until we have a massive stroke of luck.
"Michael Moore is becoming an urban legend."
Oh, Jeeze.
Sounds criminal.
Some of these companies may be guilty of these things; but how does it serve the public's interest if Michael Moore is out there muddying the waters by setting senarios up?
He should spend some of his energy exposing fraud in the Democrat Party. Install hidden cameras in DNC headquarters and see what comes out.
We can only hope that nature takes care of this fat, bloated swine. The sooner the better.
Do we really need to give this jerk anymore publicity?
"Quick aside: My hubby worked in the health care field (both government and pharma) for several years, and I'm well aware of a lot of the crap--kickbacks, marketing violations, pricing shenanigans, etc.--that goes on.
That said, unhinged pharma-bashers like Moore put all the blame for America's health care crisis on greedy drug companies--and none on Americans themselves. One of the biggest factors driving up health care costs and fueling pharma is obesity.
Nearly 130 million adults are overweight in the US alone, and 60 million of them are considered clinically obese. RTI concluded last year that the health care costs associated with obesity now rival those attributable to smoking. Obesity costs in the U.S. totaled up to $92.6 billion last year, and government-funded public insurers Medicare and Medicaid financed about half the bill.
Instead of whingeing (it's my word of the day) about the high cost of cholesterol drugs and diabetes treatments and gastric bypass surgeries, and instead of demonizing the pharma innovators who are rescuing Americans from their destructive vices, Michael Moore could actually do some good for the country by taking personal responsibility and turning the camera on himself.
The demon is in the mirror, dude."
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Looks like our boy is reverting to his original formula: Find a situation that does have real sins involved. Then amp it up out of all resemblence to reality.
I once met Rhonda the Rabbit Lady, star of his first film, Roger and Me. She was slinging hash in a K-mart cafeteria in Flint, while Moore had absconded to a Manhattan penthouse with his ill-gotten millions from his films....some champion of the little guy!
Secret cameras in doctors offices? I'm not sure you can photograph people in that situation without their permission.
If he insists on shoving objects in peoples' faces, someone will misinterpret it sooner or later, and Nature will not have to.
I call for all health professionals to refuse service, when needed, to this hunk of lard.
My Ex. FIL is a retired drug rep.
Ink pens, staplers, clipboards and other various office supplies labled with the company name and drug of choice were the extent of the "gifts" offered to the Doctors and nurses at the hosptials he frequented.
Every few months he'd host a catered semiar at different hospitals to update the doctors on various drugs and studies that had been released.
Nothing different than any other sales rep worth his salt.
More fiction that will be received by the left as gospel. I guess we should be thankful that Michael Moore has become the de facto propaganda minister of the Democrats-a competent liar would do much more harm.
Hopefully he'll have a fatal fall in the near future and the Emergency crew and hospital will withhold all lifesaving medications.
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