SOUNDBITES
The article’s *real* question that is confusing many is “How much does a life COST to save/sustain?” I think that Ed’s title creates a bias & filter through which people opine about who to blame. We tend to want someone to blame when we get very sick and feel helpless. Then who can we blame? Our DNA/genetics? Do we blame the patient? Government? Pharma companies? Which one is the easiest to vilify & hate?
AstraZeneca rep selling off-label: How many ways can I say to drug companies, “YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE ETHICS?” (Pharmalot)
On medical device ads on Youtube: drug companies shouldn’t use it to bypass commercial speech regulation.
Bayer settles for $97.5M fines in Medicare Fraud (DOJ)
AstraZeneca Cutting Jobs & Selling Some OTC Brands (WSJ)
Motrin Ad angers moms on Twitter and blogosphere (twitteromics) and a follow-up article on the #motrinmom efffect: My response to a LinkedIn Q&A re: #motrinmoms was awarded “Best Answer”.
The Doctor will see you now… online (NYTimes)
Half of primary-care doctors in survey would leave medicine (CNN)
SMARTY TWEETS
“Big Pharma” owns the herbal stuff, too. What’s better: expensive drugs that actually work or expensive herbal placebos? (T)
You know the saying “Lies, damn lies, and statistics”? What do non-marketers think about “Lies, damn lies, and marketing”? (T)