Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19840

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Magazine

McLean B
Pharma breach penalties questioned
Australian Doctor 2004 Oct 8
http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/news/pharma-breach-penalties-questioned

Abstract:

Complaints and fines meted out to pharmaceutical companies for breaching the Medicines Australia code of conduct have fallen.Thirty-six complaints were received by the Medicines Australia code of conduct committee in the year to June 2003, according to a report released last week, a drop from the 48 complaints in the previous 12 months. The total amount of fines for breaches fell by about $100,000.Web sites proved an emerging area for breaches of the code, with sites linked to Cialis and Viagra penalised for referring to product names in a public domain. Medical representative behaviour also came under the spotlight, with the makers of Zocor fined $30,000 after conceding several medication starter packs had been distributed to the public.However, Ms Nicola…