Lawyer says Jones Co. doctor kept photos of DEA ‘thugs’

https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/lawyer-says-jones-co-doctor-kept-photos-of-dea-thugs/93-572788176

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https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/-i-just-felt-that-this-is-wrong-bakersfield-man-shares-prescription-drug-woes/1297236888

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Allison Myers was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago.

She was forced to undergo a double mastectomy.

The treatment caused Allison to experience depression her husband Mike told 17 News.

“So when I’d come home from work and my house would be dark and I would walk into my room and ask my wife what is the matter, she’d be depressed and have tears in her eyes,” said Mike Myers, owner of Blue Ribbon Automotive.

Allison’s doctor prescribed Abilify–then available only as the premium brand name drug.

“She needed the medication, I wanted my wife to be happy, and I wanted to see the smile on her face…and it worked,” said Mike Myers.

The Myers’ insurance renewed this July, and Myers went to refill the medication again.

Now with a generic version of Abilify on the market, Myers hoped the price would come down.

“She was quoted a price of $180 [copay] with our insurance,” said Myers. 

But Myers remembered a news report that said sometimes the cash price can be lower than the copay.

Myers asked his local Walgreens.

“I was quoted a price of $965,” said Myers. 

When we called, we were told $963.99 for 30 tablets of generic Abilify. 

“Of course I fell down, that was just so much money to me I mean that’s my house payment for a month,” said Myers.

So Myers started calling around. 

“When I called my pharmacy where I get my medications from i was quoted a price of $35 for the same medication that Walgreens quoted me $965 on,” said Myers.

We consulted Diana Lee, owner of Lee’s Pharmacy in downtown Bakersfield, who said 30 tablets of generic Abilify would cost about $40.

Just across town, the same drug, over $900 cheaper, and $140 cheaper with cash than the Myers’ copay.

“I just felt that this is wrong. If it’s happening to me, it’s happening to a lot of people here in Kern County, it’s also happening to a lot of Americans,” said Myers.

In a statement, a Walgreens Corporate Spokesperson wrote:

Prices are determined by a number of factors including the manufacturer’s price, the cost of doing business at that location (such as lease costs and taxes) and other operational factors.  In addition to participating in most insurance plans, we also offer our Prescription Savings Club <https://www.walgreens.com/pharmacy/psc/psc_overview_page.jsp?ban=rxh_psc_3>  which offers savings on more than 8,000 brand and generic medications.  Walgreens also accepts a number of other discount program cards. When choosing a pharmacy, we encourage patients to select one that offers the best value based on pricing and also the services available – such as participation in government plans, 24/7 convenience and services that can accommodate immediate prescription drug needs.

Lee advises consumers to go to a pharmacist who knows you if possible.

“If it’s an expensive generic, it is worth price shopping, but if it’s something fairly inexpensive like a $20 prescription, it should be about that anywhere you go,” said Lee. 

“And here I am today talking with you so we can let other people know you need to watch what you spend your money on and just don’t take the first answer that’s given to you,” said Myers. 

We want to hear more of your stories about high medical costs you’ve experienced.

If you’re willing to share, contact 17 News at 283-1717 or at 17News@kget.com.

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DOJ unveils proposal giving feds more power to limit opioid production

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/396566-new-regulation-gives-doj-more-power-to-limit-production-of-opioids

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Well I sure shouldn’t have worried about what the insurance would or

wouldn’t pay for regarding my ultracet. Our family doctor sent a letter

stating that she will no longer prescribe any of the pain meds,

including oxycontin, vicodin or tramadol for chronic pain patients

starting Jan 1. Everyone will be sent a tapering schedule of their

present meds. No one else will take any of us in this area. My husband

has a pain doc in FL, and I will attempt to become a patient there as

well. We are just going to leave WV (doctor in OH) and move to FL. Our

doctor did not offer any alternatives or any suggestions as to where

patients might go. She feels that she is contributing to this “epidemic”

by continuing to prescribe. How can a doctor just abandon patients like

this? We have been patients in that practice for over 35 years, but our

regular doctor went on medical leave last April and is not coming back.

When will this ever stop in this country? We were both perfect patients

and even had reduced our own doses of medication and had stopped taking

the 1 benzo/day that we took at night. What is this country coming to?

We hear about overdoses of heroin every day on our scanner; they are all

young men.

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http://www.apmss.net/

from their website:

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Why states’ opioid prescribing regulations may be a detriment to chronic pain patients

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/opioids/why-states-opioid-prescribing-regulations-may-be-a-detriment-to-chronic-pain-patients.html

Twenty-eight states have created laws and policies limiting the prescription of opioids to patients. For some individuals with chronic pain, these types of restrictions are more crippling than curative, according to NPR.

The most common regulation  among the states focuses on restricting a patient’s first opioid prescription to a number of pills that will last less than a week, while a few states, such as Arizona, have taken a stronger stance. The Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act, passed in late January, limits most patients’ maximum dosage for prescription painkillers.

Since the law’s passing, Arizona physicians reported feeling pressure to lower patient doses, even for individuals who’ve taken a stable opioid regimens for years without any issues.  The lower dose requirements are leaving many patients with severe chronic pain, according to NPR.

Julian Grove, MD, a pain physician at Phoenix-based Pain Consultants of Arizona, worked with the state to help create the law’s  prescribing limits.

“We moved the needle to a degree so that many patients wouldn’t be as severely affected … But I’ll be the first to say this has certainly caused a lot of patients problems, anxiety,” he told NPR. “Many people who are prescribing medications have moved to a much more conservative stance and unfortunately pain patients are being negatively affected.”

More articles on opioids:

10 latest developments, findings on opioids
Pill curbs opioid addiction also poisons children
How first responders are handling opioid overdose calls in Florida

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Pain clinic closing, changes leave thousands scrambling for care, medicine

https://www.journalnow.com/business/business_news/local/pain-clinic-closing-changes-leave-thousands-scrambling-for-care-medicine/article_7a2944f0-d767-5569-b7ec-a214b8490fe2.html

Filed under: General Problems | 4 Comments »

FDA Caught Covering-Up a Laundry List of Fraudulent Studies

www.realfarmacy.com/fda-caught-covering-laundry-list-fraudulent-studies/

Professor Charles Seife of the Arthur L. Carter Institute of Journalism at New York University recently uncovered some disturbing evidence about the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This information came to light when he made a Freedom of Information request earlier this year. When Seife received his information, he learned that 22 clinical trials submitted to the FDA were falsified, and the results of these falsified trials were not revealed to the public.

With his students assisting him, Professor Seife compared the FDA’s actions regarding these trials against information on them in peer-reviewed studies. The results of Seife’s investigation were recently published in the online journal, JAMA Internal Medicine.

The FDA is keeping the public in the dark about scientific fraud

When clinical trials are found to have violated proper practices or to have been falsified, the FDA takes regulatory action against those conducting the trials. When this is required, paperwork regarding the trials is traditionally marked as “official action indicated (OAI).”

Seife’s investigation revealed that 57 trials received the OAI indicator for everything from bad record keeping (35 studies) to actual falsification of results (22 studies). The affected trials took place between 1998 and 2013. The FDA never informed the public of these findings or of any actions taken against the facilitators of the studies.

How could the FDA allow falsified studies to be published?

While the FDA did take ‘official action’ against clinical trial facilitators who falsified results, they allowed the results to be published. No retractions for these falsified results were ever required. Studies with blatantly falsified results remain in medical journals, misleading other researchers as well as the public about the truth.

It is no longer a ‘secret’, the FDA has violated the public trust.  This is the same organization that refuses to label seafood that has mercury – a known neurotoxic (heavy metal) substance; allows the deadly (artificial) sweetener aspartame to be sold in food products and gives its approval to drugs that cause harm.

By allowing falsified results of clinical trials to remain in publications with no retractions required, the FDA is violating the public’s trust. The public has a right to expect transparency from the FDA, as the health and safety of America’s people depend on it.

Professor Seife has stated that the FDA seldom takes any action to make sure falsified study results are corrected in the medical literature, even when it finds significant departures from good study practices. And, the only reason why the FDA has not been taken down is because the federal government, its regulatory agencies and the U.S. legal system work together to protect corporate interests – while minimizing its exposure to lawsuits.

The evidence is clear: The FDA does not care about public safety

When the FDA does NOT retract inaccurate and/or falsified research projects – this indicates a clear violation of their duties and obligations – both morally and professionally. In fact, the actions of the FDA are criminal – by NOT making every (reasonable) step to protect the population.

And, just in case you have any doubt how bad this organization really is – consider this quote from a credible source:

“The thing that bugs me is that the people think the FDA is protecting them. It isn’t. What the FDA is doing and what the public thinks it’s doing are as different as night and day.” – Herbert Ley Jr., M.D., former Commissioner of the FDA.

The FDA consistently acts as the ‘protector’ of drug company profits and supports the monopoly-control that the pharmaceutical industry has over the world.  Not only does the FDA hide fraud, they actually censor quality health information from getting into the public domain. In fact, here are several examples of how the FDA deliberately withholds lifesaving information from the general public:

-Between 1992 and 1996, the FDA prohibited companies that sell folic acid from telling women of childbearing age that .4 mg of folic acid daily before pregnancy could reduce the incidence of neural tube defects (including spina bifida and encephaly) by 40%. FDA’s censorship contributed to a preventable 10,000 neural tube defect births.

-Between 1994 to 2000, the FDA prohibited companies that sell omega-3 fatty acids from telling Americans that those fatty acids found in fish oil could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 50%. FDA’s censorship contributed to a preventable 1.8 million sudden death heart attacks.

-Between 2000 and the present, FDA prohibits companies that sell saw palmetto extract (the fruit of the dwarf American palm tree) from telling Americans that saw palmetto reduces enlarged prostates and relieves related symptoms. Approximately 50% of all men age 50 and older suffer from enlarged prostates and are denied access to this information.

-Between 2000 and the present, FDA prohibits companies that sell glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate from telling Americans that those dietary ingredients treat osteoarthritis and relieve osteoarthritic pain and stiffness. Approximately 20 million Americans suffer needlessly from osteoarthritis.

This criminal behavior must be stopped. Without the correct information, other researchers, as well as the general population, are being misled and allowed to go down roads regarding their own studies, health and wellness practices – that lead to nowhere, or eventual harmful outcomes.  The FDA has broken public trust; acted without regard to public safety and must be held accountable for their actions.

References:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/289167.php
http://www.smnweekly.com/fda-possibly-hidden-22-fraudulent-clinical-trials/15039
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2109855
http://www.stopfdacensorship.org
Credit: http://www.naturalhealth365.com/clinical-trials-food-and-drug-administration-1328.html
Image Background: Wikimedia Commons

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US Drug Watchdog Urges Pharmacy Clients Who Were Given the Wrong Drug or a Prescription for Someone Else by a Pharmacist to Call Them About Compensation – Were You Injured?

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-drug-watchdog-urges-pharmacy-clients-who-were-given-the-wrong-drug-or-a-prescription-for-someone-else-by-a-pharmacist-to-call-them-about-compensation—were-you-injured-300677164.html

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The US Drug Watchdog says, “We are now urging persons to call us anytime at 866-714-6466 if their local pharmacy provided them with someone else’s prescription or a prescription with the wrong drugs or incorrect dosage. For some people, the outcome of receiving the wrong prescription or a drug prescription with incorrect dosage could be fatal. We would like to help you get compensated. The only catch we have is did you keep the medication and or keep the sales receipt that indicates the error?” http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

The US Drug Watchdog is now warning consumers using a pharmacy drive through in any state nationwide to confirm the drug they are picking up has the correct name on it, the drug is the correct medication prescribed by their doctor-dentist, and do the pills or medication look to be the same as what the consumer has taken before. If not-the group is urging the consumer to park their car and go into the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist about the issue. 

The US Drug Watchdog Is Urging Consumers Nationwide To Be on The Look Out for The Following Types of Pharmacy Errors:

• The pharmacy provided the consumer with the wrong drug medication
• The pharmacy failed to provide the consumer with the proper dosage and usage directions on the label
• The pharmacy filled a prescription for a child with the wrong drug medication.
• The pharmacy provided the consumer with someone else’s prescription
• Giving the young child an unintended drug
• The pharmacy failed to check for any potential medication interaction issues

The US Drug Watchdog says, “We are certain pharmacy prescription errors kill or seriously injure tens of thousands of US consumers every year.  If you possess proof a pharmacy gave you the wrong prescription, a prescription with the wrong dosage or someone else’s prescription, please call us anytime at 866-714-6466-especially if you were injured by the mistake.

“However, as mentioned we will need proof of the mistake either being you still are in possession of the incorrect prescription, or your sales receipt indicates the error. If you possess this type of proof-we will get you to qualified lawyers who have a track record of assisting consumers nationwide with these types of very serious pharmacy error issues. We also want to emphasize this is a national initiative for consumers in every state from Maine to California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, Ohio, New York, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Washington, etc.” http://USDrugWatchdog.Com

Two pts take new prescriptions into a pharmacy… one walks away with the wrong medication – a mis-fill – and the second walks away with NO MEDICATION because the pharmacist on duty states that “they are not comfortable” or some other “excuse” … not a valid reason/fact…

Did both pts fail to get the medications that their prescriber intended for them to have… the first is technically considered a MIS-FILL – wrong medication

The second…  should it also being considered a MIS-FILL ?

Both pts walked away from the pharmacy without the medication that their prescriber wanted them to have for their medical/health issues.

If not… is there a DOUBLE STANDARD ?  The primary charge of the 51 Boards of Pharmacy is to protect the public’s health and safety… if these boards only take action against the former issue and not the latter… are they failing to meet their primary charge ?

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