Drugmaker reveals which docs it paid to speak ( Archived) (6)

Merk paid $3.7 million to more than 1,000 health professionals this summer

updated 2:24 p.m. CT, Mon., Oct . 19, 2009
TRENTON, N.J. - Merck & Co. paid doctors and nurses a total of $3.7 million this summer to give talks to colleagues about the drugmaker's products and other health topics, Merck disclosed Monday.

Amid growing criticism of industry influence over which treatments doctors choose for their patients, the company posted a database on its Web site listing speaking fees paid to 1,078 doctors, researchers, nurses and other health professionals. It covers July through September, and Merck — the second major drugmaker to disclose payments to doctors — plans to update it regularly.

"There's been a tremendous amount of misunderstanding" about the relationship between industry and doctors, said Dr. Richard Pasternak, Merck's head of scientific affairs. "This shines a light on it."

The 1,078 speakers gave a total of 2,493 talks and were paid $1,548 on average. The top earner got $22,693, and dozens of doctors received more than $10,000.

"We think what we're doing is just fine," Pasternak told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview.

'A step in the right direction'
Califf said disclosing payments to physicians is "a step in the right direction," but that medical schools and professional medical societies should take a bigger role in teaching doctors about new products.

Dr. Steven Nissen, head of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic and an industry critic, said disclosures aren't enough.

"They don't pay this kind of money unless they're getting marketing out of it," he said, adding that paid speakers "become an employee and an agent of the pharmaceutical industry."

What kind of bunk is this?

Who cares if the pharmaceutical companies have to provide a list of the Doctors who promote their products?

Fact is, they've got a racket going on. If you've ever wondered why your drugs cost so much that you have to have insurance to afford them, this is why. $3.7 Million!!! They could have gave out meds for FREE and saved money!

And now our government will force we the people to keep them in business, giving them more customers, guaranteed!

These Doctors made more money during the summer months, advertising, than many of you make all year! They are drug dealers!!!

They are murderers! Turning humans into Toxic waste dumps by filling them full of these Hazardous Materials.


And they think that what they are doing is "just fine".

The Love of money ,,,I always believe that pharmaceutical companies had their hands in the pockets of doctors you are right they are the legal drug dealers of our time better use some sense when using drugs prescribed by them especially when the side affects are worst then the disease or afflictions you are taking it for

Hi there lovely! We have never met.
They call me HL Thank you for posting!

Yes, I agree, the love of money has ruined our Doctors.
It wasn't so very long ago our Doctors made house calls and they
didn't mind if they did not get paid. They did it cos they cared about people and they valued life.

Recently I posted a link in one of my threads, to a video on Psychotic drugs and the racket the Doctors, FDA and Pharmaceutical companies have going on. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend watching when you have the time.




Ah, you've noticed that too! I have seen commercials where they list the side-effects for the advertised drug and they are worse than what you would be treated for. I think to myself...
Who would want to take it???

But MILLIONS DO!!!!!