Re: Just be Dianosed Today - Do not like doc's Treatment plan
From: Anonymo (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Jan 16 06:20:03 2003
TAP is a sponsor of the Endometriosis Association??
If this is so, it would be VERY VERY VERY disturbing.
Can you please tell me where I can verify this? It's not that I think
you're making this up, but this would be such shocking and upsetting
news
that I need some proof before believing it. I don't see it mentioned on
the EA website.
I know TAP is NOT NOT NOT a sponsor of the Endometriosis Research
Center,
though. The ERC has actually been very critical of the use of Lupron,
and
regularly posts articles on their website that TAP would not like to see
there.
Unfortunately, in the $875 million lawsuit you mention (which was also
mentioned on the ERC website), this was only a
settlement. Because it never went to trial, TAP didn't have to admit
liability,
and is able to continue saying they did nothing wrong, but just settled
the
lawsuit "for the benefit of their customers who rely on the drug."
HAHAHA.
What a laugh.
In this latest article which I will post separately in a moment, another
Doctor (who happens to be associated with OBGYN.net also) releases a
study
recommending that GnRH agonists like Lupron be used as a first line of
treatment (without EVER diagnosing). I looked up some of his other
articles,
and he does all these cost analyses of how much money it will save to
use
Lupron instead of laparoscopy. Does anyone remember the patient?
What about the cost to the patient??
At Wed, 15 Jan 2003, anonymous wrote:
>
>>the manufacturer (TAP) just works behind the scenes to fund studies and incentives and campaigns to get the doctors to prescribe it for other uses.<
>
>Not just doctors. They are one of the Endometriosis Association's
>biggest "sponsors." Not sure about the Endometriosis Research Center,
>but that wouldn't surprise me either.
>
>>giving medication without a diagnosis.<
>
>This is a common practice nowadays, but real experts in Endometriosis
>think it is "unethical." I agree. So-called experts are sitting around
>at conferences offering guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of
>Endometriosis, recommending GnRH therapy across the board (real experts
>like Reich, Redwine, Albee, Cook, Metzger, Koh, et al. were *not* on
>the most recent panel I am referring to, but all of TAP's scientific
>advisors were - you do the math) and so the local Gyns are following
>suit.
>
>I have seen others say, would you give chemotherapy to a suspected
>cancer patient, or would you diagnose them first and then treat? I think
>that says it best.
>
>>They don't have to operate, save$ and just give you Lupron. I'd give my right arm to know if they allowed that on any of their female relatives or friends. ;) Don't ask me, but I don't think I'd want to be TAP, that's asking for a major lawsuit.<
>
>It doesn't get much bigger than their last lawsuit, the biggest in
>pharmaceutical history, for fraud and ethics violations - $875 MILLION.
>Yet, they haven't so much as blinked an eye at the financial cost of
>their behaviour.
>
>>>What does TAP mean? I'm sort of flat-lining here, and can't figure it out quickly!>
>
>Takeda Abbott Pharmaceuticals.
>
>>>I've never heard of taking Lupron for years and years. The old school of thought was 6 months max.<
>
>Since last year, if you have a bone density scan and go on norethindrone
>with the Lupron, you can be retreated once.
>
>But this won't stop others from prescribing it to their patients before
>a surgical diagnosis or keeping patients, including teens, on it for
>extended years. It's all about the almighty dollar.
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