General Discussion

solarhydrocan

(551 posts)

56. Some are taking bribes or all these stories may qualify for libel suits

Sun Dec 8, 2013, 12:04 PM

Dec 2013

I believe you when you say you work your ass off and are a stand up person. I don't think you yourself are taking bribes. I'm sure many if not maybe most Doctors are the same.

But these fines are getting paid for some reason. Likely the fact that some Doctors are not as ethical as you. The main point is that the Pharma companies have done many unethical things.

This needs to stop now. Especially now that we are all tied together by mandatory insurance payments.

Big Pharma’s Bribery Blues

Big pharmaceutical companies have a knack for getting into trouble with governments. Over the past four years, major names in big pharma - including Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) - have been fined billions of dollars in the United States for giving physicians kickbacks and perks to promote off-label marketing.

This month, charges of bribery have surfaced in China. The Chinese government is currently investigating GlaxoSmithKline for allegedly running a “bribery web” that drew in government officials, hospitals and doctors to boost sales and prices since 2007. Other companies, like AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) and UCB, have also been questioned by authorities. Should investors in these companies be worried? >>more
http://beta.fool.com/leokornsun/2013/07/24/big-pharmas-bribery-and-price-fixing-blues/41373/

Johnson & Johnson agrees to settle with SEC & DOJ for $70 million
http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/huge-bribery-fine

Drug Company Accused of Bribing Doctors
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=131602

Bribery And Corruption In The Pharmaceutical Sector
http://www.financierworldwide.com/article.php?id=11025

GlaxoSmithKline fined $3bn after bribing doctors to increase drugs sales
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jul/03/glaxosmithkline-fined-bribing-doctors-pharmaceuticals

Bribery 'routine' for foreign pharmaceutical firms in China
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-23662909

Teva says it may have violated bribery laws around the world
http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/teva-says-it-may-have-violated-bribery-laws-around-world/2013-11-01

Do these stories- by reputable news sources- not indicate that there is a MAJOR problem with *Pharmaceutical companies* and how they do business?

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Why do doctors choose a $2,000 drug over a $50 one? [View all] jsr Dec 2013 OP

Boat payments Boom Sound 416 Dec 2013 #1

As opposed to balloon payments, I suppose. HereSince1628 Dec 2013 #13

+1000 valerief Dec 2013 #28

Sounds nicer than "kickbacks!" nt MADem Dec 2013 #52

No, the complicity comes much cheaper, dinner and a few pens is all it takes. nt mother earth Dec 2013 #79

One word - KICKBACKS TheDebbieDee Dec 2013 #2

Your comment needs some background, citations on kickbacks. I get your point, yet pinto Dec 2013 #10

Here ya go Paulie Dec 2013 #20

Examples solarhydrocan Dec 2013 #26

Gosh where are those apologists? JNelson6563 Dec 2013 #58

Why don't you see post 45 before you assume you know everything elias7 Dec 2013 #71

From the first page of the article linked by the OP DLnyc Dec 2013 #46

We are on Medicare and my wife has the type of macular degeneration for which the indepat Dec 2013 #70

???? except that the $50 treatment is just as effective ????? DLnyc Dec 2013 #73

No, the $50 treatment doesn't last as long and my wife requires transportation to the doctor's indepat Dec 2013 #74

Okay, I understand that there is a reason to prefer the $2,000 treatment. DLnyc Dec 2013 #75

All your points are well-taken indepat Dec 2013 #78

Rec. Single payer could stop abuses like this. merrily Dec 2013 #3

+1 grahamhgreen Dec 2013 #65

Yes it could. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #67

One of the best tweaks for Medicare D would be taking the Veterans' Administration approach - pinto Dec 2013 #4

I thought it is more of a Republican blocking thing than an overlooked thing. nt Incitatus Dec 2013 #8

Yeah. pinto Dec 2013 #12

It WAS part of the Obama/Biden HC proposal but was dropped after ... slipslidingaway Dec 2013 #35

For me it was ear drops after tube placement. The ordered was $80, which I didn't know uppityperson Dec 2013 #5

I agree that the doctors just don't know the prices Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #11

As they get pushed to go faster and faster, they have even less time to keep up with the latest and uppityperson Dec 2013 #16

I agree with your points, but Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #18

those I know try to but they have a limited amount of time to do so. uppityperson Dec 2013 #21

But it is not just the time spent it is where the information is coming from. A Simple Game Dec 2013 #27

Very good point. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #31

I'm sure most do, and many may care, A Simple Game Dec 2013 #51

A huge plus one! nt Enthusiast Dec 2013 #68

So what's your take on this? n/t lordsummerisle Dec 2013 #6

Maybe because Big Pharma reps give them cruises, gifts, and boatloads of babble... Fridays Child Dec 2013 #7

Omeprazole (Prilosec) versus Esomeprazole (Nexium) for acid reflux Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #9

An interesting thing about omeprazole Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #15

that is stange - I take it as a prescription too - and I get 60 -20 mg capsules with my 80/20 Aenta Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #19

Wow. The price I was told of $130 Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #22

I only use it very sparingly now - at one point I had the terrible side effect of lots of diarrhea Douglas Carpenter Dec 2013 #25

Thanks. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #30

I took 40mg Nexium for many years (with corp insurance) once I retired LiberalArkie Dec 2013 #62

Thanks I bookmarked that thread laundry_queen Dec 2013 #48

my doctor is pushing the shingles shot and I refuse hollysmom Dec 2013 #14

Maybe he's just trying to help. Chicken pox and shingles are related. Skip Intro Dec 2013 #24

you miss the point - I had chicken pox 4 times - the shingles shot has a LIVE virus in it hollysmom Dec 2013 #29

Sorry. But... Skip Intro Dec 2013 #37

I have been going to him for over 10 years, not the best, certainly far from the worst. hollysmom Dec 2013 #43

My doc says no to the vaccine because it's a live virus. broiles Dec 2013 #61

in your case i might get it, but i do DesertFlower Dec 2013 #34

Many, many people get shingles. blue neen Dec 2013 #39

i'm 72 and haven't had it. i know it's nasty, but DesertFlower Dec 2013 #41

The thing is, after you get shingles you can get the shot - hollysmom Dec 2013 #42

i don't believe those statistics. DesertFlower Dec 2013 #47

I am recovering from a huge shingles outbreak Mojorabbit Dec 2013 #54

I accept that and know that it must have been horrible hollysmom Dec 2013 #81

I took the drugs to temper the effect Mojorabbit Dec 2013 #84

AHm, but you had other attacks before. hollysmom Dec 2013 #85

I have a friend who has had a terrible bout with shingles--still gets flare ups two years mnhtnbb Dec 2013 #87

You had dchicken pox four times? KamaAina Dec 2013 #76

I just had it, I don't know why. hollysmom Dec 2013 #80

big pharma spends millions sending reps to visit doctors. that tells you all you need to know. unblock Dec 2013 #17

Have to admit, I enjoy sitting in doc's office and seeing the pretty drug reps. But, that misses Hoyt Dec 2013 #55

interesting how, yes, drug reps often do seem to fit a certain profile.... unblock Dec 2013 #64

My father did the research and demanded Avastin curlyred Dec 2013 #23

Not Everyone is Playing for Our Team mckara Dec 2013 #32

They get tickets to football, baseball, golf outings etc. n/t doc03 Dec 2013 #33

Commission in some form or the other, JimboBillyBubbaBob Dec 2013 #36

Answer: ''What are Kickbacks?'' DeSwiss Dec 2013 #38

Because of all the swag that Big Pharma gives doctors and their offices. nt Lex Dec 2013 #40

I'm a Physician Assistant, not a doctor. But I always prescribe the most effective/least expensive Aristus Dec 2013 #44

In this case there are multiple reasons Sgent Dec 2013 #45

Use of Avastin for macular degeneration would be an "off-label" use not approved by the FDA FarCenter Dec 2013 #59

Perhaps it's as simple as perception? Victor_c3 Dec 2013 #49

Thank you for this comment elias7 Dec 2013 #50

Some are taking bribes or all these stories may qualify for libel suits solarhydrocan Dec 2013 #56

I'm not talking about pharmaceutical companies elias7 Dec 2013 #60

I almost certainly agree with most of your statement Sgent Dec 2013 #66

I know this will not be popular, but that is one problem with traditional Medicare. Hoyt Dec 2013 #53

They push what the pharmaceutical reps want them to push. Autumn Dec 2013 #57

What you witnessed is nearly universal. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #69

By chance, I met a woman who was a surgical equipment rep. After finding out what she bluestate10 Dec 2013 #83

I see them when I wait to see my Doc. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #86

An entrenched system of graft built and protected by the AMA and associated industries. Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #63

An ophthalmologist explains: moondust Dec 2013 #72

For totally free vacations in Hawaii ? B Calm Dec 2013 #77

The Doctor may be getting a kickback. Health care reform in my state removed that bluestate10 Dec 2013 #82