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lawsuits threatened....
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Cheer,

Can't say that I'm surprised at this. I've been saying for years that there are many shady deals that go on in the background when it comes to big pharma and the established MS docs. Of course many people don't believe me and say I have an agenda against these companies. I guess this is one of the reasons that the cost of these drugs has gone up over the years and MS patients and their insurance companies are paying through the nose.

Harry

lawsuits threatened. removed
cheer

Frankly, this is disgusting. Usually I equate money laundering with drug dealers, but... well, now that I think about it these are drug companies, so it makes sense.

ProPublica is a group of ridiculously good reporters and they've been reporting on these abuses for a few months now. Check out some of these great articles about the influence of drug companies on doctors.

http://www.propublica.org/article/medic ... s-industry

http://www.propublica.org/special/heart ... ention-ads

http://www.propublica.org/special/how-m ... m-industry

http://www.propublica.org/article/medic ... al-support

http://www.propublica.org/article/dolla ... 00-million

http://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/ (this is their ever-growing database)

btw - here is the database entry for Bowling. http://projects.propublica.org/docdolla ... nts/567476

Just a 20k payment from pfizer in the second half of 09. And that's just what they HAVE to report because of a settlement. No big deal.

EDIT - by the way, thank for digging that case up Joan. I had no idea about this case. I was a patient at Rocky Mtn MS Center, but didn't have the pleasure of being treated by Bowling.

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cheer

CBS Business News picked up the Consortium of MS Centers money-laundering story-
How MS Drugs are Promoted: "We have a whole money-laundering thing going on"

cheer

cheerleader wrote:CBS Business News picked up the Consortium of MS Centers money-laundering story-
How MS Drugs are Promoted: "We have a whole money-laundering thing going on"

cheer

Cheer,

You know what's even more irritating here...Bowling was prescribing Rebif to MS patients, not because it may have been the best option for them at the time, but because he was getting kickbacks. In this instance, they got caught but it makes you wonder just how many other similar situations having taken place over the years with other docs.

So much for trusting our esteemed MS docs who subscribe to the established scientific model of looking after our best health care interests.

Harry

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cheer

I wonder how many famous people who have been known to flog Rebif know about the kickbacks? I also wonder if the FDA approval of Rebif is part of this whole scheme.

I was diagnosed 2 years ago. I distinctly remember the Dr. that initially took care of me at the hospital upon diagnosis kept pushing Rebif on me. He gave me the binder/info regarding each MS drug but insisted on trying Rebif first. When I went home and read through the drug info., I couldn't understand why he would push Rebif on me knowing how I felt about the specific side effects it causes. I chose copaxone but to this day always wondered about his insistance. This article might explain why.

So I'll just post details from the email sent to Joan from the CMSC lawyer which happens to include a link to the website with the complaint that was filed against Serono.

BNET article: wrote: Text of email sent to Joan Beal:

Your Facebook page contains libelous statements concerning the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers. It also contains a link to freepdfhosting.com/543bcc781b.pdf,” which itself contains a United States District Court complaint THAT WAS FILED UNDER SEAL.

That complaint includes libelous and false statements.

Link to the CBS BNET article

And a response from the CMSC:

http://mscare.org/cmsc/index.php?option ... temid=1099

patientx wrote:And a response from the CMSC:

http://mscare.org/cmsc/index.php?option ... temid=1099

It's called damage control by your PR people. Everybody else is wrong and we are totally innocent. Now please just let us take our money and leave us alone

Harry