Comments on: California County Sues Glaxo Over Avandia Risks

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:17:00 +0000

I agree with each of the above posters regarding the lack of teeth with Medical Boards and their reluctance to enforce penalties on many members of the medical community. I also agree that the whistleblower act is weak and research shows most whistleblowers do not ever recover professionally or personally from their decision to step forward. External corporate ombudsman corporate support is needed in the pharma industry.

By: pharmavet

pharmavet — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:48:23 +0000

I agree with Patrons. In the 1970’s, my dad, who is a surgeon was appointed to head up a large PSRO (Peer Standards Review Organization) on the east coast. The purpose of the PSRO’S was to review physician performance and institute corrective measures where necessary in order to improve quality of care. They held a big stick, as they they had the authority to deny underperforming doctors admitting privileges at their hospitals. The program was highly effective, but unfortunately was discontinued with the advent of managed care. State medical board members are essentially political appointees, and do not care as much about enforcing standards as they do perpetuating their own interests.

By: patrons99

patrons99 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:26:06 +0000

Harpy - I disagree. State medical boards are quite often feckless in removing “inadequate” physicians. I know of a particular case in which a certain state BOMEX, after “investigating” certain allegations of physician misconduct, simply punted the matter to federal regulators, alleging that clinical research fraud was under federal, not state, jurisdiction.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/17300794/Feb-19-2002-Arizona-State-Board-of-Medical-Examiners-Letter

Sean - it is certainly true that “not all physicians are created equal”. That applies to ALL professions, not just medicine. There are sociopaths in all walks of life. It is particularly troubling when BOTH state and federal regulators effectively refuse to reign them in. This explains, in part, why so few would-be whistleblowers are willing to step up and do the right thing. Whistleblower protections need to be strengthened. The current system quite often makes a pariah and outcase out of the whistleblower, someone to be shunned by his or her peers.

By: harpy

harpy — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:58:42 +0000

I believe state medical boards take care of removing inadequate physicians. and malpractice lawsuits. or are you saying that once a drug has made it to market it should remain in aeternum due to the fact it is simply there?

By: Sean

Sean — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:35:56 +0000

Doc…maybe the FDA should do the same with physicians. Take physicians off the market when there are plenty of other competent alternatives on the market. Isn’t that a reasonable alternative since not all physicians are created equal? Do physicians provide different levels of care and therefore efficacy?

By: Doc

Doc — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:40:12 +0000

Go Santa Clara! By the way, why is this drug still on the market? Actos has the same efficacy without these issues. What better way to teach pharma companies to do the right thing, than take their drug off the market, if there is a reasonable alternative?

By: Justice in MI

Justice in MI — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:36:44 +0000

As I understand the suit, which seems to follow the FCA model, it doesn’t matter what the injury or death numbers might be.

What matters is whether Glaxo misrepresented the benefits/risks of Avandia in its promotion of the drug to a public entity–in this case, the county hospital. That’ the charge.

By: MsPiggy

MsPiggy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:17:06 +0000

This is just another glaring example of caused patient damage and death, corporate cover ups, and pesky little legal settlements being just part of the cost of doing business as usual with Glaxo and others.

By: harpy

harpy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:11:49 +0000

yep, it certainly is. proving once again that if you’re gonna skirt the law, you have to do a really good job of keeping it under your hat

By: Stephany

Stephany — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:11:22 +0000

Fantastic, tip of the “Vioxx iceberg”! There is plenty of data recorded via patient records, insurance company records and drug sales records for statistics. Nice try attempting to turn this story around to “liberal county looking for for money”. LOL