Eli Lilly and Co. paid Jacksonville-area doctors thousands of dollars as consultants to market drugs
Maker of Prozac and Cialis was forced to publish doctor names and compensation.
- Story updated at 11:29 PM on Friday, Sep. 4, 2009
Drug companies routinely pay physicians as experts in the course of marketing their products. While legal, the practice is widely criticized as a conflict of interest that drives up drug costs.
One pharmaceutical company paid more than $76,000 to Jacksonville-area doctors and other medical providers in the first three months of this year.
That’s according to the first publicly released information to document the long-hidden financial ties between drug companies and doctors.
Eli Lilly and Co., the maker of Prozac, Cymbalta and Cialis, was forced to begin publishing the names and compensation of its paid consultants as part of a $1.4 billion settlement with the federal government last January.
Among the names that became public were those of several physicians practicing in the Jacksonville area. For the full story, including names of the physicians, see Sunday’s Business section of the Times-Union.
Comments
Dr.’s are as bad as politicians!
Submitted by Wendell on Fri. 9/4/2009 at 5:09 pmDr.’s are as bad as politicians!
Dr’s Got To Make A Living Too
Submitted by fearlessfan on Fri. 9/4/2009 at 9:05 pmYou shouldn’t blame the doctors, it’s the high dollar Pharmaceutical companies who are pushing the dough. Anybody in their right mind would take it especially if its legal; too heck with ethics.
It is all about ethics
Submitted by rs471911 on Sat. 9/5/2009 at 10:50 am Recently I was in my doctor’s waiting room, 45 minutes past my scheduled appointment. During my wait I watched as 4 pharmaceutical reps, one after another, walked right in to see the doctor and peddle their drugs. The nurse said the doctor sees each rep personally. When I finally saw the doctor I asked if he saw more pharmaceutical reps or patients a day. He gets perks for prescribing their drugs. The scariest part was I heard him asking one of the reps for medical advice. He is no longer my doctor.
I had the same thing happen to me six years ago///
Submitted by Xenon on Sat. 9/5/2009 at 1:53 pmI also was waiting for a appointment for over 45 minutes and was shocked at the people walking in and out without signing in. Finally when i was checking out, three representatives were in the hallway laughing and talking with the Doctor and talking about a upcoming quail hunt, Montana hunting trip and a deep sea fishing trip at their expense, one female representative turned to me and handled me a pen, with pharmaceutical advertisement on it as i was trying to sign my check and said to me, “Just keep it, a sovernier.” Smiled perkily and turned back to the group and the Doctor.
I have not been back since. I just wish integrity, honor, honesty and accountability would come back along with true patriotism for our country and it’s citizens. My age is showing…
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