Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty, called repeat cheater

[Guest guest]

(from News)Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty for drug promosWASHINGTON – 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."They were entertained with golf, massages, and other activities," said Mike Loucks, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts.Loucks said that even as Pfizer was negotiating deals on past misconduct, they were continuing to violate the very same laws with other drugs.For the complete story:http://news./s/ap/20090903/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pfizer_settlement

[Guest guest]

Now, why don’t they

go after all the doctors that knowingly accepted these “goodies”? You know, if the doctors had integrity

and ethics, they wouldn’t bite at the carrot. No such thing as “business ethics”,

either you have ethics or you don’t.

 

And why doesn’t the government just shut Pfizer down like they do natural

medicine companies?? Is it because the

government knows that Pfizer has no trouble paying this type of fine even

though to the public it “seems” like a lot of money thus making the

government look like it is on-its-toes?

My guess would be YES!

Repeat offenders my aching back….of course they are….that’s

not rocket science! They are repeat

offenders because they are allowed to be.

 

 

Be Well

Dr.L

 

 

 

oleander soup

oleander soup On Behalf Of

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:21 PM

oleander soup

Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty,

called repeat cheater

 

 

 

 

 

(from News)

 

Pfizer

to pay record $2.3B penalty for drug promos

 

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.

 

" They were entertained with golf, massages, and other activities, "

said Mike Loucks, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts.

 

Loucks said that even as Pfizer was negotiating deals on past misconduct, they

were continuing to violate the very same laws with other drugs.

 

For the complete story:

http://news./s/ap/20090903/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pfizer_settlement

[Guest guest]

And why doesn't the government just shut Pfizer down like they do natural medicine companies??

Maybe this phrase in the full version of the story gives a further clue:

"the head of the Justice Department, Attorney General Eric Holder, did not participate in the record settlement, because he had represented Pfizer on these issues while in private practice."

Tis a merry chase they lead us on. In any given year, over half the top managers who leave the FDA end up in the employment of the same companies we think the FDA is supposed to oversee.

And the top managers in the drug and food industries end up heading up our government agencies over drugs and food and we get little gems like Vioxx, Aspartame, Avandia, Fosamax, GMO food, food irradiation, banning of raw milk, growth hormones and antibiotics in our milk and meats, pesticides and herbicides in our fruits and vegetables . . .

(Oops! Did I get back on my soapbox?)

oleander soup , "Dr. Loretta Lanphier"

<drlanphier wrote:>> Now, why don't they go after all the doctors that knowingly accepted these> "goodies"? You know, if the doctors had integrity and ethics, they wouldn't> bite at the carrot. No such thing as "business ethics", either you have> ethics or you don't.> > And why doesn't the government just shut Pfizer down like they do natural> medicine companies?? Is it because the government knows that Pfizer has no> trouble paying this type of fine even though to the public it "seems" like a> lot of money thus making the government look like it is on-its-toes? My> guess would be YES! Repeat offenders my aching back..of course they> are..that's not rocket science! They are repeat offenders because they are> allowed to be.> > > Be Well> Dr.L> > oleander soup oleander soup On> Behalf Of > Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:21 PM> oleander soup > Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty, called> repeat cheater> > > > (from News)> > Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty for drug promos> > 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.> > "They were entertained with golf, massages, and other activities," said Mike> Loucks, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts.> > Loucks said that even as Pfizer was negotiating deals on past misconduct,> they were continuing to violate the very same laws with other drugs.> > For the complete story:> http://news./s/ap/20090903/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pfizer_settlement>

[Guest guest]

Absolutely which is why

this “slap on the wrist” doesn’t mean much. Just a cover-up and most people believe

it – makes the government look like it’s really protecting the

consumer. And that’s what is

best for America right? Government

protection for our health. Ugh!!!

 

Scoot over…..I’m climbing up on the box, too! ;o)

 

Be Well

Dr.L

 

 

 

oleander soup

oleander soup On Behalf Of

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:53 PM

oleander soup

Re: Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty,

called repeat cheater

 

 

 

And why doesn't the government just shut Pfizer down like they do natural

medicine companies??

Maybe this phrase in

the full version of the story gives a further clue:

" the head of the Justice

Department, Attorney General Eric Holder, did not participate in the record

settlement, because he had represented Pfizer on these issues while in private

practice. "

Tis a merry chase

they lead us on. In any given year, over half the top managers who leave

the FDA end up in the employment of the same companies we think the FDA is

supposed to oversee.

And the top managers

in the drug and food industries end up heading up our government agencies over

drugs and food and we get little gems like Vioxx, Aspartame, Avandia,

Fosamax, GMO food, food irradiation, banning of raw milk, growth

hormones and antibiotics in our milk and meats, pesticides and herbicides in

our fruits and vegetables . . .

(Oops! Did I

get back on my soapbox?)

oleander soup , " Dr. Loretta Lanphier "

<drlanphier wrote:

>

> Now, why don't they go after all the doctors that knowingly accepted these

> " goodies " ? You know, if the doctors had integrity and ethics,

they wouldn't

> bite at the carrot. No such thing as " business ethics " , either

you have

> ethics or you don't.

>

> And why doesn't the government just shut Pfizer down like they do natural

> medicine companies?? Is it because the government knows that Pfizer has no

> trouble paying this type of fine even though to the public it

" seems " like a

> lot of money thus making the government look like it is on-its-toes? My

> guess would be YES! Repeat offenders my aching back..of course they

> are..that's not rocket science! They are repeat offenders because they are

> allowed to be.

>

>

> Be Well

> Dr.L

>

> oleander soup oleander soup

On

> Behalf Of

> Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:21 PM

> oleander soup

> Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty,

called

> repeat cheater

>

>

>

> (from News)

>

> Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty for drug promos

>

> 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.

>

> " They were entertained with golf, massages, and other activities, "

said Mike

> Loucks, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts.

>

> Loucks said that even as Pfizer was negotiating deals on past misconduct,

> they were continuing to violate the very same laws with other drugs.

>

> For the complete story:

> http://news./s/ap/20090903/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pfizer_settlement

[Guest guest]

Dr. Lamphier,

 

I'd bet Pfizer will never have to pay a nickel of this fine. They'll take this case all the way to the Supreme Court, where they will find allies in the fascist, corporatist court.

 

Bob

 

-

Dr. Loretta Lanphier

oleander soup

Wednesday, September 02, 2009 8:41 PM

RE: Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty, called repeat cheater

 

 

Now, why don’t they go after all the doctors that knowingly accepted these “goodies”? You know, if the doctors had integrity and ethics, they wouldn’t bite at the carrot. No such thing as “business ethics”, either you have ethics or you don’t.And why doesn’t the government just shut Pfizer down like they do natural medicine companies?? Is it because the government knows that Pfizer has no trouble paying this type of fine even though to the public it “seems” like a lot of money thus making the government look like it is on-its-toes? My guess would be YES! Repeat offenders my aching back….of course they are….that’s not rocket science! They are repeat offenders because they are allowed to be.

Be WellDr.L

 

 

 

oleander soup oleander soup On Behalf Of Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:21 PMoleander soup Subject: Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty, called repeat cheater

 

(from News)Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty for drug promosWASHINGTON – 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."They were entertained with golf, massages, and other activities," said Mike Loucks, the U.S. attorney in Massachusetts.Loucks said that even as Pfizer was negotiating deals on past misconduct, they were continuing to violate the very same laws with other drugs.For the complete story:http://news./s/ap/20090903/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pfizer_settlement

[Guest guest]

Applause!!!!

Very well said!

 

Rachel

 

 

 

Dr. Loretta Lanphier wrote:

>

>

> Now, why don’t they go after all the doctors that knowingly accepted

> these “goodies”? You know, if the doctors had integrity and ethics,

> they wouldn’t bite at the carrot. No such thing as “business ethics”,

> either you have ethics or you don’t.

>

> And why doesn’t the government just shut Pfizer down like they do

> natural medicine companies?? Is it because the government knows that

> Pfizer has no trouble paying this type of fine even though to the

> public it “seems” like a lot of money thus making the government look

> like it is on-its-toes? My guess would be YES! Repeat offenders my

> aching back….of course they are….that’s not rocket science! They are

> repeat offenders because they are allowed to be.

>

>

>

> Be Well

> Dr.L

>

> ** oleander soup

> oleander soup *On Behalf Of *

> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 02, 2009 10:21 PM

> *To:* oleander soup

> *Subject:* Pfizer busted (again) - given $2.3B penalty,

> called repeat cheater

>

>

>

> (from News)

>

> Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty for drug promos

>

>

> For the complete story:

> http://news./s/ap/20090903/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pfizer_settlement

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>