Pharma's (not so) Surprising Dirty Tricks

Via Health Care Renewal, Pharma's establishing a nasty pattern of intimidation and retaliation against doctors who challenge with their findings:

So the theme is intimidation, coercion, and/or threatened punishment of health care professionals who dare to speak out about dangers of drugs or potential reseach misconduct of pharmaceutical companies. Particularly distressing was that in two cases (but presumably not that of Dr. Topol, to the credit of the Cleveland Clinic), pressure by a commercial entity apparently resulted in adverse action by the the professional's employer, even though the employers in these cases, a UK university, and a US federal agency, ought by their very natures and stated missions to protect the rights of their professional employees to honestly communicate about scientific and medical matters.

Head over to the post to learn more -- the case details are very much worth reading.

In terms of the FDA investigating the veterinarian, it's pretty fishy to go after doctors based on the pharmaceutical company's wishes. It just reinforces all the B.S. happening at the agency lately, between Lester Crawford and Plan B, removing the black box labels on anti-depressents, silicone implant approval... on and on and on. We're way past due for a major overhaul.

Comments

[Jim S]

While we may be past due for an overhaul we won't be getting one for 37 months.