Comments on: Former Pfizer Exec Jailed For Child Pornography http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:17:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Chris http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378745 Chris Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:57:14 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378745 At least they jail execs for child porn. If it's white-collar crime, the company pays a fine and the execs get off free! At least they jail execs for child porn. If it’s white-collar crime, the company pays a fine and the execs get off free!

]]> By: Justice in MI http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378470 Justice in MI Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:30:20 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378470 Just to Anne's question (beyond it being rhetorical): The usual argument why "white collar crime" rarely leads to criminal conviction, and especially if one were to convict several top execs, has to do with the perceived consequences beyond the company. That is, it is argued that removing these people would itself cost the public more than keeping them in place via some combination of fines and remedial action. I am not agreeing with that argument (I don't); just reporting it. Just to Anne’s question (beyond it being rhetorical): The usual argument why “white collar crime” rarely leads to criminal conviction, and especially if one were to convict several top execs, has to do with the perceived consequences beyond the company. That is, it is argued that removing these people would itself cost the public more than keeping them in place via some combination of fines and remedial action.

I am not agreeing with that argument (I don’t); just reporting it.

]]> By: Anne http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378466 Anne Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:13:14 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378466 Why is it that a pharmaman gets sent to prison for pornography, but none of the other pharmamen ever get sent to prison for maiming and killing with their drugs? Why is it that a pharmaman gets sent to prison for pornography, but none of the other pharmamen ever get sent to prison for maiming and killing with their drugs?

]]> By: Matthew Holford http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378450 Matthew Holford Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:36:34 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378450 Christopher wrote: "Matt, yes, you are implying much more than is there..." I'm not sure that I am. The pharmaceutical industry is awash with tales of intimidation, conducted at the behest of, or with the knowledge of, executives. It's a pattern of behaviour; a culture endemic to the industry (and, if truth were told, to that class of people). This guy was part of that culture, that's all I'm saying. Matt Christopher wrote:
“Matt, yes, you are implying much more than is there…”

I’m not sure that I am. The pharmaceutical industry is awash with tales of intimidation, conducted at the behest of, or with the knowledge of, executives. It’s a pattern of behaviour; a culture endemic to the industry (and, if truth were told, to that class of people). This guy was part of that culture, that’s all I’m saying.

Matt

]]> By: Bob http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378426 Bob Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:02:35 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378426 I can't really say that his behavior can be generalized to say anything about the industry in general or Pfizer in particular. On an individual level, I would note that his arrogance was only overshadowed by his casual distain for those who were unfortunate enough to need a job in his dapartment after the Pharmacia acquisition. That he got off on pictures involving the abuse of infants comes as not a huge surprise. I can’t really say that his behavior can be generalized to say anything about the industry in general or Pfizer in particular.

On an individual level, I would note that his arrogance was only overshadowed by his casual distain for those who were unfortunate enough to need a job in his dapartment after the Pharmacia acquisition.

That he got off on pictures involving the abuse of infants comes as not a huge surprise.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378413 Christopher Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:00:13 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378413 Matt, yes, you are implying much more than is there. It is an enormous stretch - unless you want to - to assume that someone who has such obvious problems also possesses swashbuckling powers that would 'intimdate an academic whistleblower' or send in the hounds to 'intimidate a patient advocate'. On what grounds do you support that, other than an apparent distaste for anything related to the pharma industry? I am in no way condoning his actions. Equally, I cannot see how on earth you can credibly link this episode with a wholesale condemnation of the industry. Anyway, have a nice weekend. Matt, yes, you are implying much more than is there. It is an enormous stretch - unless you want to - to assume that someone who has such obvious problems also possesses swashbuckling powers that would ‘intimdate an academic whistleblower’ or send in the hounds to ‘intimidate a patient advocate’. On what grounds do you support that, other than an apparent distaste for anything related to the pharma industry?

I am in no way condoning his actions. Equally, I cannot see how on earth you can credibly link this episode with a wholesale condemnation of the industry.

Anyway, have a nice weekend.

]]> By: Matthew Holford http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378404 Matthew Holford Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:50:23 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378404 Christopher wrote: "Mercy Matt - you’re torturing that logic..." Am I? Do you imagine that a person who was prepared to exploit child sex slaves, for example, would fight shy of intimidating an academic whistleblower? Or sending lawyers to intimidate a patient advocate? One word might be "psychopath." Matt Christopher wrote:
“Mercy Matt - you’re torturing that logic…”

Am I? Do you imagine that a person who was prepared to exploit child sex slaves, for example, would fight shy of intimidating an academic whistleblower? Or sending lawyers to intimidate a patient advocate?

One word might be “psychopath.”

Matt

]]> By: Christopher http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378394 Christopher Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:40:12 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378394 Mercy Matt - you're torturing that logic. Obviously know where you're coming from but this is stretching it a bit far... Mercy Matt - you’re torturing that logic. Obviously know where you’re coming from but this is stretching it a bit far…

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378390 Ed Silverman Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:10:18 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378390 Hi Folks, We had this discussion last March, when this fellow was arrested. So here's my response, once again - I attempt to cover a wide mix of topics on this site, including executive changes and doings. And to my mind, that includes items that are about execs. I agree that, on the surface, this episode appears to have nothing to do with Pfizer or patents or pharma. However, given this fellow’s previous role at Pfizer, it may be of interest to others in the company or the industry what is happening to execs and former execs with positions of influence. Moreover, since I posted about his arrest last March, it is only natural - from a journalist's point of view - to follow up with a post about his sentencing. Regards, Ed Hi Folks,

We had this discussion last March, when this fellow was arrested. So here’s my response, once again - I attempt to cover a wide mix of topics on this site, including executive changes and doings. And to my mind, that includes items that are about execs. I agree that, on the surface, this episode appears to have nothing to do with Pfizer or patents or pharma.

However, given this fellow’s previous role at Pfizer, it may be of interest to others in the company or the industry what is happening to execs and former execs with positions of influence.

Moreover, since I posted about his arrest last March, it is only natural - from a journalist’s point of view - to follow up with a post about his sentencing.

Regards,
Ed

]]> By: Matthew Holford http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/former-pfizer-exec-jailed-for-child-pornography/#comment-378389 Matthew Holford Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:56:49 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=16682#comment-378389 It *does* have something to do with the pharma business, because what it tells us is that this particular individual was prepared to exploit vulnerable people, for gain. That's the generic argument, and that's a little disquieting. Presumably, though, he was just an isolated individual, and not at all resembling the general culture of the Worshipful Company? Matt It *does* have something to do with the pharma business, because what it tells us is that this particular individual was prepared to exploit vulnerable people, for gain. That’s the generic argument, and that’s a little disquieting. Presumably, though, he was just an isolated individual, and not at all resembling the general culture of the Worshipful Company?

Matt

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