Red Flags - E-Raspberry

Is Medicare Part D Helping Employers Exit Retiree Health Care?

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:50:03 -0400

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Is Medicare Part D Helping Employers Exit Retiree Health Care?

Description:

“Most U.S. employers are planning to further scale back health benefits offered to retirees, as companies struggle with the upward march in the cost of medical care and weigh increased contributions from the government’s Medicare program, a survey found.”

My Performance Is Worth Millions: Pfizer CEO

Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:45:22 -0400

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My Performance Is Worth Millions: Pfizer CEO

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“Pfizer Chief Executive Hank McKinnell defended his compensation on Sunday, saying share price performance alone is not enough to evaluate his effectiveness as CEO of the world's largest drug maker.

McKinnell became the target of complaints about excessive executive compensation when Pfizer disclosed a retirement package under which he can he can choose from an annual pension of more than $6.5 million, or a lump sum payment of $83 million. He also earned nearly $16 million in 2005.”

Studies Suggest Medicare May Be Driving Up Prescription Drug Prices

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 20:58:55 -0400

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Studies Suggest Medicare May Be Driving Up Prescription Drug Prices

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The wholesale prices of brand-name prescription drugs increased 3.9% in the first quarter of 2006, the largest quarterly increase since 2000, according to a study released on Tuesday by AARP, the AP/Arizona Daily Star reports (Freking, AP/Arizona Daily Star, 6/21).

NCI Spins Facts To Show Progress Against Cancer

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:32:50 -0400

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NCI Spins Facts To Show Progress Against Cancer

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“We’re making great progress against cancer, right?

The National Cancer Institute desperately wants you to believe that, even if it means spinning the scientific facts to fit the perception.”

Is The AJP Quashing Debate On Suicide Risk And Antidepressants?

Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:25:47 -0400

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Is The AJP Quashing Debate On Suicide Risk And Antidepressants?

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“The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) has not published a single letter to the editor regarding a highly publicized study by Dr. Gregory Simon, et al., ‘Suicide Risk During Antidepressant Treatment,’ claiming that data from this uncontrolled epidemiological study demonstrated that antidepressant treatment reduced suicide attempts. The study has been widely criticized. The director of the National Institute of Mental Health acknowledged the Simon study provides no valid information . . . . Other critiques have been made on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Canada’s Health Minister Owns Shares In Pharmaceutical Company

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 20:38:10 -0400

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Canada’s Health Minister Owns Shares In Pharmaceutical Company

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“Imagine yourself, newly arrived in Ottawa, as the freshman minister of cheeseburgers. Before moving into your office, might you be inclined first to divest yourself of your personal interest in Harvey's? Particularly if your interest amounted to a whopping one-quarter ownership of the company?”

FDA Inspecting Fewer Transplant Tissues

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 19:58:31 -0400

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FDA Inspecting Fewer Transplant Tissues

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“A piece of fruit coming into the United States is more likely to get government attention than a ligament or heart valve taken from a cadaver and destined for transplant.”

Caveat Consumer: Magazine Ads Boost Benefits While Downplaying Side Effects Of Anti-Cancer Drugs

Fri, 09 Jun 2006 20:52:24 -0400

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Caveat Consumer: Magazine Ads Boost Benefits While Downplaying Side Effects Of Anti-Cancer Drugs

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“If you're reading a magazine ad promoting an anti-cancer drug, be sure to read the fine print, a new U.S. study says. Drugs to fight cancer that were advertised in consumer-based magazines seemed to promote all of the benefits of the drugs in large text. Risks and side effects, however, generally appeared lower on the page and in a smaller, more difficult-to-read text.”

Europeans Approve Antidepressant For Children Despite Increased Risk Of Suicide

Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:42:56 -0400

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Europeans Approve Antidepressant For Children Despite Increased Risk Of Suicide

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“The European Medicines Agency has recommended to extend the indication for Prozac (fluoxetine) and associated names to include the treatment of children of 8 years of age or older who suffer from moderate to severe depression and who do not respond to psychological therapy. The Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use concluded that the benefits of using Prozac in this indication outweigh its potential risks, but that the marketing authorization holder, Eli Lilly, should carry out additional studies to ensure that the safety profile of Prozac remains acceptable.”

U.S. Medical Privacy Law Not Enforced

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 17:40:42 -0400

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U.S. Medical Privacy Law Not Enforced

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“In the three years since Americans gained federal protection for their private medical information, the government has received thousands of complaints alleging violations yet has not imposed a single civil fine and has prosecuted just two criminal cases.”

85 Percent Of Amputations Preventable: Diabetes Foundation

Wed, 31 May 2006 20:12:48 -0400

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85 Percent Of Amputations Preventable: Diabetes Foundation

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“Non-traumatic amputations — those caused by arterial blockages related to diabetes, smoking, obesity and vascular system complications — are occurring at an alarming rate. Yet physicians may be too quick to amputate as 85 percent of them may be preventable, according to the International Diabetes Foundation.”

Limiting Access To Raw Drug Trial Data ‘Standard Practice’

Mon, 29 May 2006 19:45:29 -0400

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Limiting Access To Raw Drug Trial Data ‘Standard Practice’

Description:

“If P&G’s behavior was typical of the pharmaceutical industry, and they insist that it was, there must be many papers reporting the results of clinical trials that have appeared in peer-reviewed journals and purport to be collaborations between industry and universities, often with the academics as lead authors (and therefore, presumably, as lead investigators) in which the academics have never even seen the raw data, still less been allowed to analyze it. The papers were written by ghost writers, hired by the company, who were not involved in the research and who are not listed as authors.”

Unnecessary Diagnostic Testing Rampant In The U.S.

Fri, 26 May 2006 21:56:59 -0400

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Unnecessary Diagnostic Testing Rampant In The U.S.

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“A doctor who listens to us and examines us, then orders a test — a blood test or an x-ray for example — is a good doctor, right? After all, extra tests mean more chance of finding something wrong.

In fact, the reverse is the case — the fewer tests, the better off you're going to be, say the experts.”

Time’s Suicide Story An ‘Infomercial’ For Psychotropic Drugs

Wed, 24 May 2006 18:19:11 -0400

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Time’s Suicide Story An ‘Infomercial’ For Psychotropic Drugs

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“A feature article in the current issue of Time magazine, “When Colleges Go On Suicide Watch” is a blatant example of an “infomercial” that extends pharmaceutical company advertising pages into the news pages in Time magazine.

The article is passed off as a news report with the byline of two Time reporters — Julie Raw and Kathleen Kingsbury — but the misinformation and slant is clearly a transcription of psychotropic drug company advertising copy.”

Maker Of Contact Lens Cleaner Failed To Notify FDA Of Fungal Infections

Wed, 17 May 2006 20:38:35 -0400

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Maker Of Contact Lens Cleaner Failed To Notify FDA Of Fungal Infections

Description:

“Bausch & Lomb Inc. failed to promptly notify federal regulators about 35 cases of a potentially blinding fungal infection among contact lens wearers in Singapore who reported using its newest contact lens cleaner, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday.”