We continue to wonder why some older folks are prescribed a dozen different drugs. My Dad was on 19 different medications for a couple of years before he passed away at age 90. i wanted to choke his damned doctor.
WASHINGTON – Federal prosecutors hit Pfizer Inc. with a record-breaking $2.3 billion in fines Wednesday and called the world's largest drugmaker a repeating corporate cheat for illegal drug promotions that plied doctors with free golf, massages, and resort junkets.
Announcing the penalty as a warning to all drug manufacturers, Justice Department officials said the overall settlement is the largest ever paid by a drug company for alleged violations of federal drug rules, and the $1.2 billion criminal fine is the largest ever in any U.S. criminal case. The total includes $1 billion in civil penalties and a $100 million criminal forfeiture.
Authorities called Pfizer a repeat offender, noting it is the company's fourth such settlement of government charges in the last decade. The allegations surround the marketing of 13 different drugs, including big sellers such as Viagra, Zoloft, and Lipitor.
As part of its illegal marketing, Pfizer invited doctors to consultant meetings at resort locations, paying their expenses and providing perks, prosecutors said.
I have a story to share: Many years ago my Grandfather had a mild heart attack. He was intensive care and after the first day could not keep any food down and didn't want to eat. This was a man who farmed cattle and worked and and ate like a horse previous. The docs said " he has a stomach virus and it will pass". I smelled a rat, I knew my grandad. They said he couldn't get up to pee - I knew that was wrong immediately. When my Grandmother told me after the 7th day of his intensive care that he was dying I asked her about his meds - having heard how docs over-perscribe meds That's when I found out he was on 11 MEDICATIONS!! Iknew instantly they were killing my grandad with meds - they didn't care. I told my Grandmother on the phone "Mamaw, these 11meds are killing him with an unkown cumulative effect - it ain't no stomach virus!!! you can tell the docs to take him off all the meds except the one or two he needs for his heart in the nice wifely sort of way - AND IF YOU DON'T I WILL GO DO IT MYSELF AND PROBABLY GET ARRESTED WHILE I'M DOING IT!"
My Grandmother did exactly what I said that day (for love of her husband and for fear of what I would do). The docs left him on his nitro pill and a BP pill (2 out of 11) - within 24 hrs he was walking, PEEING ON HIS OWN - and eating like a horse again - and went home.
This was Years ago mind you but he drove a tractor yesterday helping us put up the second cutting of hay.
YEARS I bought my grandad for what I did, though I regret that my grandmother had to hear me speak like that. I'd much rather have had the legal authority to tell the docs and Big Pharm myself. We do what we must I suppose.
Thanks again falcon. you are a true patriot!
PS: this was All done under private insurance and hospital - no socialism needed to attempt the murder of my grandfather and no praise for me for saving his life from either the left or the right.
Last edited by TexasGulf3; 09-02-2009 at 05:27 PM.
Well falcon the Dems are going to take care of your father's probelm from happening to anyone else in the future. They will just deny him the drugs up frony and let him die ten years younger.
It makes me sick how you blame coporate America for you problems on one hand and then blame the Repblicans on the other. You have bought into the Dem's BS far too long. Then again, what should I expect from an independent who puts his finger in the air every election cycle.
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
You have bought into the Dem's BS far too long. Then again, what should I expect from an independent who puts his finger in the air every election cycle.
Yep, the finger in the air is testing for evil, lies and bull****. It it detects any of the above in a candidate for congress or the white house, i write in the name of the town idiot. The town idiot is more qualified for public office than 90 percent of Republicans and Democrats in congress.
Yep, the finger in the air is testing for evil, lies and bull****. It it detects any of the above in a candidate for congress or the white house, i write in the name of the town idiot. The town idiot is more qualified for public office than 90 percent of Republicans and Democrats in congress.
The grumpiest old man alive who just loves to bitch on the side lines rather than get involved. Why even waste the effort to vote. You really don't care who gets into office do you?
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John Adams “The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence.”
Ronald Reagan: 'Everybody that is for abortion has already been born'
"I never said I was worth it. I only said I wouldn't do it for less " William F. Buckley Jr.
Yep, the finger in the air is testing for evil, lies and bull****. It it detects any of the above in a candidate for congress or the white house, i write in the name of the town idiot. The town idiot is more qualified for public office than 90 percent of Republicans and Democrats in congress.
While I'm not a fan of government intervention, I think I would support some kind of legislation here; preferably state legislation if possible. I equate the pharmaceutical sales people with lobbyists. They truly wine and dine the doctors just to get them to prescribe a certain drug. Every week they come in with a new one too. It's hard for me to put all the blame on doctors. When you have someone shoving money down your shirt, it's real easy to see their logic, no matter what that logic is. Am I right or do I need to be set straight here?
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"Impartiality is a pompous name for indifference, which is an elegant name for ignorance." G.K. Chesterton
I'm just responding to get this moved up in the list. I really want to know what point of view others have on this. Should there be laws on how pharmaceutical companies market to doctors?
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"Impartiality is a pompous name for indifference, which is an elegant name for ignorance." G.K. Chesterton
Pfizer Gets 2.3 Billion $ Fine
