Comments on: Drug company ethics and the pharmaceutical industry’s pursuit of profit http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Impactiviti Daily 091709 « Impactiviti bloghttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-112058 Impactiviti Daily 091709 « Impactiviti blog Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:09:06 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-112058 [...] shenanigans (maybe). Boy, do I get tired of reading about this stuff. The Gold-in Rule at [...] [...] shenanigans (maybe). Boy, do I get tired of reading about this stuff. The Gold-in Rule at [...]

]]> By: Impactiviti Daily 090309 « Impactiviti bloghttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-111087 Impactiviti Daily 090309 « Impactiviti blog Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:11:14 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-111087 [...] the “money quote” from one of the internal whistleblowers, which perfectly underscores my recent blog post on the Gold-in Rule: “In the Army, I was expected to protect people at all costs,” said the whistleblower, [...] [...] the “money quote” from one of the internal whistleblowers, which perfectly underscores my recent blog post on the Gold-in Rule: “In the Army, I was expected to protect people at all costs,” said the whistleblower, [...]

]]> By: Steve Woodruffhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-110831 Steve Woodruff Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:07:05 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-110831 Of course, these ethical issues are not isolated to pharma - as Dr Kirsch (and others) have pointed out, it's a universal problem. Here's a counter-balancing post I wrote a while back addressing that issue: http://bit.ly/ktLYw Of course, these ethical issues are not isolated to pharma – as Dr Kirsch (and others) have pointed out, it’s a universal problem. Here’s a counter-balancing post I wrote a while back addressing that issue: http://bit.ly/ktLYw

]]> By: Jack Fridayhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-110694 Jack Friday Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:33:06 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-110694 Hi Steve,Nice post from a nice guy!And this is why you are President of Impactiviti rather than a CEO of Big Pharma....... Hi Steve,

Nice post from a nice guy!

And this is why you are President of Impactiviti rather than a CEO of Big Pharma…….

]]> By: Michael Kirsch, M.D.http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-110573 Michael Kirsch, M.D. Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:07:18 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-110573 I presume that the author's remark, 'I would love to see pharma companies adopt the following “Golden Rule” approach as a cornerstone of their mission', could be applied globally, and not just targetted to the pharmaceutical industry. So many professions and industries, including our own, have conflicts that test our integrity. Regrettably, we live in a 'Cliff Notes' society where fast track advancement is the preferred pathway. In many instances, there are many checks in the system, which can curb misconduct. In the ghostwriting medical scandal, for example, it would never have become airborne if the physician 'authors' pushed back and squelched the effort. Obviously, there is no simple solution available. While you can't legislate ethics and morality, oversight, accountablity and enforcement can provide incentives to wavering individuals and institutions to do the right thing. I presume that the author’s remark, ‘I would love to see pharma companies adopt the following “Golden Rule” approach as a cornerstone of their mission’, could be applied globally, and not just targetted to the pharmaceutical industry. So many professions and industries, including our own, have conflicts that test our integrity. Regrettably, we live in a ‘Cliff Notes’ society where fast track advancement is the preferred pathway. In many instances, there are many checks in the system, which can curb misconduct. In the ghostwriting medical scandal, for example, it would never have become airborne if the physician ‘authors’ pushed back and squelched the effort. Obviously, there is no simple solution available. While you can’t legislate ethics and morality, oversight, accountablity and enforcement can provide incentives to wavering individuals and institutions to do the right thing.

]]> By: sonnethttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-110536 sonnet Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:49:40 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-110536 Regarding ethics of pharmaceutical comapnies and new drugs: I think this debate will not end. Why? AS, it is not only a medical issue...! Oh Mr Smart... I remeber while there was a debate regarding R/Warfarin & R/Coumadin. They said alot. We attended a lecture offered by the pharmacetical company concerned with the general point (Generic vs. Brand). Then, a specific mini-lecture concerned with the new Warfarin (R/Coumadin).During my MSc. examinations, there was a written question concerned with new warfarins and generic warfarins. Even, in any developing country, no patient could afford for that R/Coumadin. I remember the cost was more than 10 (TEN ) times!. I answered the quetion well, but with my broken heart.....http://tabibqulob.blogspot.com/2008/12/generic-vs-brandnew-title-for-old-story.html Thanks Regarding ethics of pharmaceutical comapnies and new drugs:
I think this debate will not end. Why? AS, it is not only a medical issue…!
Oh Mr Smart…
I remeber while there was a debate regarding R/Warfarin & R/Coumadin. They said alot. We attended a lecture offered by the pharmacetical company concerned with the general point (Generic vs. Brand). Then, a specific mini-lecture concerned with the new Warfarin (R/Coumadin).

During my MSc. examinations, there was a written question concerned with new warfarins and generic warfarins.
Even, in any developing country, no patient could afford for that R/Coumadin. I remember the cost was more than 10 (TEN ) times!.
I answered the quetion well, but with my broken heart…..

http://tabibqulob.blogspot.com/2008/12/generic-vs-brandnew-title-for-old-story.html
Thanks

]]> By: Brad at Pharmahttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-110527 Brad at Pharma Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:48:03 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-110527 I have done so many ethics and compliance courses... signed so many affidavits that I understand the way in which we should be doing business... sat through so may seminars on appropriate behaviour.The things I think that the world needs to see is a truly transparent reporting of the business practices of ethical pharmaceutical companies... much like cycling teams are opening their blood test records to forestall doping accusations.Even if we did, though, would anybody believe it? When the conspiracy theories about Big Pharma are so far out there, even the disputation of honest business practices becomes "what people believe..."Look, I don't know everything, and maybe I've taken too big a swig of the Flavor-Aid, but I can't believe that ethical pharmaceutical companies still try to pull that... stuff... Maybe my opinion is coloured by the fact that a major pharma pays my daily wage, but there's one thing I think.I think that Novartis has a management team who will brook no shenanigans. I've talked (albeit briefly) with Dr. Vasella. I've read the internal blogs written by other members of executive staff. I know how *I* behave, and I can only judge the behaviour of my colleagues by what I see... and what I see is pretty damned good.Now, I'll see if I can get somebody internally to start posting a report card (externally created and audited, of course) of our business practices...FULL TRANSPARENCY : I work for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, but am not a spokesman in any capacity. The opinions expressed here represent only my views. #iwork@novartis I have done so many ethics and compliance courses… signed so many affidavits that I understand the way in which we should be doing business… sat through so may seminars on appropriate behaviour.

The things I think that the world needs to see is a truly transparent reporting of the business practices of ethical pharmaceutical companies… much like cycling teams are opening their blood test records to forestall doping accusations.

Even if we did, though, would anybody believe it? When the conspiracy theories about Big Pharma are so far out there, even the disputation of honest business practices becomes “what people believe…”

Look, I don’t know everything, and maybe I’ve taken too big a swig of the Flavor-Aid, but I can’t believe that ethical pharmaceutical companies still try to pull that… stuff… Maybe my opinion is coloured by the fact that a major pharma pays my daily wage, but there’s one thing I think.

I think that Novartis has a management team who will brook no shenanigans. I’ve talked (albeit briefly) with Dr. Vasella. I’ve read the internal blogs written by other members of executive staff. I know how *I* behave, and I can only judge the behaviour of my colleagues by what I see… and what I see is pretty damned good.

Now, I’ll see if I can get somebody internally to start posting a report card (externally created and audited, of course) of our business practices…

FULL TRANSPARENCY : I work for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, but am not a spokesman in any capacity. The opinions expressed here represent only my views. #iwork@novartis

]]> By: Golden Rule, or Gold-in Rule? « Impactiviti bloghttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/08/drug-company-ethics-and-the-pharmaceutical-industrys-pursuit-of-profit.html#comment-110526 Golden Rule, or Gold-in Rule? « Impactiviti blog Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:31:31 +0000 http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/?p=39670#comment-110526 [...] August 26, 2009 by Steve Woodruff What should be the foundation of a pharma company’s business ethics – the Golden Rule or the Gold-in Rule? That’s the subject of my guest post on the healthcare blog KevinMD. [...] [...] August 26, 2009 by Steve Woodruff What should be the foundation of a pharma company’s business ethics – the Golden Rule or the Gold-in Rule? That’s the subject of my guest post on the healthcare blog KevinMD. [...]

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