(on the take) Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

[Guest guest]

Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

By MARTIGA LOHN – 5 days ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota psychiatrist who received more

than $350,000 in speaking and consulting fees from pharmaceutical

companies will quit a panel that advises the state on drugs for low-

income Medicaid patients.

Dr. E. Simon said on Wednesday that he will resign because the

organization that originally asked him to serve, the Minnesota

Psychiatric Society, was " a little uncomfortable with the appearance

of conflict of interest " posed by his panel membership.

Financial relationships between the drug industry and two panel

members, including Simon, came to light when The Associated Press

reviewed disclosure records filed by drug companies under a

pioneering state law. Eli Lilly & Co. and other drug makers paid

Simon more than $350,000 in honoraria and fees while he was serving

on the Minnesota Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee. Another adviser

who resigned last year got $78,000.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking the panel

members to sign off on a new policy requiring them to reveal " real or

perceived " conflicts of interest, including honoraria, compensation,

free travel or other perks from drug companies within the past five

years.

They must abstain from voting on " any related matters that may come

before the committee. "

Department spokeswoman Smigielski said committee members are

expected to approve the new policy before their next meeting on

Tuesday.

The panel advises the human services agency on roughly $240 million

worth of drugs for more than 200,000 patients, most of them mentally

ill or disabled.

Simon said his work as a paid speaker didn't influence his decisions

on the committee. He joined the panel in mid-2004, and said he will

resign when the Psychiatric Society picks another psychiatrist to

replace him.

" I thought I did a good job of representing the patients of the

Society and for the interest of psychiatric patients, " he said. " I

have not heard otherwise. "

Vukelich, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society's executive

director, praised Simon's service but said there were concerns that

he would have to sit out key votes under the new policy. She said the

organization is grappling more broadly with the influence of

business, including the drug industry, on medicine.

" It's bigger than just one appointee or one situation, " she said.

Ethics experts have said the links between Minnesota's drug advisers

and the industry raise the possibility of similar arrangements in

other states. But tracing the influence is difficult: Outside of

Minnesota, only Vermont and Maine require drug companies to report

payments to doctors for speeches, consulting and other services.

Hosted by Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

[Guest guest]

Hasn't anyone told the reporter of this article about TMAPS being exposed?

Hasn't anyone told that state's DHS about TMAPS being exposed? Why did he have

to quit? Why wasn't he fired? Again, where are the criminal charges for all the

harms against our most vulnerable (especially nursing home victims and

children)? The bear is naked in the street, so why are too many failing to

report the whole truth?

SSRI medications

From: jeremybryce1953@...

Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:51:03 +0000

Subject: (on the take) Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

By MARTIGA LOHN – 5 days ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota psychiatrist who received more

than $350,000 in speaking and consulting fees from pharmaceutical

companies will quit a panel that advises the state on drugs for low-

income Medicaid patients.

Dr. E. Simon said on Wednesday that he will resign because the

organization that originally asked him to serve, the Minnesota

Psychiatric Society, was " a little uncomfortable with the appearance

of conflict of interest " posed by his panel membership.

Financial relationships between the drug industry and two panel

members, including Simon, came to light when The Associated Press

reviewed disclosure records filed by drug companies under a

pioneering state law. Eli Lilly & Co. and other drug makers paid

Simon more than $350,000 in honoraria and fees while he was serving

on the Minnesota Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee. Another adviser

who resigned last year got $78,000.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking the panel

members to sign off on a new policy requiring them to reveal " real or

perceived " conflicts of interest, including honoraria, compensation,

free travel or other perks from drug companies within the past five

years.

They must abstain from voting on " any related matters that may come

before the committee. "

Department spokeswoman Smigielski said committee members are

expected to approve the new policy before their next meeting on

Tuesday.

The panel advises the human services agency on roughly $240 million

worth of drugs for more than 200,000 patients, most of them mentally

ill or disabled.

Simon said his work as a paid speaker didn't influence his decisions

on the committee. He joined the panel in mid-2004, and said he will

resign when the Psychiatric Society picks another psychiatrist to

replace him.

" I thought I did a good job of representing the patients of the

Society and for the interest of psychiatric patients, " he said. " I

have not heard otherwise. "

Vukelich, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society's executive

director, praised Simon's service but said there were concerns that

he would have to sit out key votes under the new policy. She said the

organization is grappling more broadly with the influence of

business, including the drug industry, on medicine.

" It's bigger than just one appointee or one situation, " she said.

Ethics experts have said the links between Minnesota's drug advisers

and the industry raise the possibility of similar arrangements in

other states. But tracing the influence is difficult: Outside of

Minnesota, only Vermont and Maine require drug companies to report

payments to doctors for speeches, consulting and other services.

Hosted by Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

_________________________________________________________________

Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Café. Stop by

today.

http://www.cafemessenger.com/info/info_sweetstuff2.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_OctWLtagl\

ine

[Guest guest]

I guess he isn't going to return the money....

Or go to jail.

(on the take) Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

By MARTIGA LOHN - 5 days ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota psychiatrist who received more

than $350,000 in speaking and consulting fees from pharmaceutical

companies will quit a panel that advises the state on drugs for low-

income Medicaid patients.

Dr. E. Simon said on Wednesday that he will resign because the

organization that originally asked him to serve, the Minnesota

Psychiatric Society, was " a little uncomfortable with the appearance

of conflict of interest " posed by his panel membership.

Financial relationships between the drug industry and two panel

members, including Simon, came to light when The Associated Press

reviewed disclosure records filed by drug companies under a

pioneering state law. Eli Lilly & Co. and other drug makers paid

Simon more than $350,000 in honoraria and fees while he was serving

on the Minnesota Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee. Another adviser

who resigned last year got $78,000.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking the panel

members to sign off on a new policy requiring them to reveal " real or

perceived " conflicts of interest, including honoraria, compensation,

free travel or other perks from drug companies within the past five

years.

They must abstain from voting on " any related matters that may come

before the committee. "

Department spokeswoman Smigielski said committee members are

expected to approve the new policy before their next meeting on

Tuesday.

The panel advises the human services agency on roughly $240 million

worth of drugs for more than 200,000 patients, most of them mentally

ill or disabled.

Simon said his work as a paid speaker didn't influence his decisions

on the committee. He joined the panel in mid-2004, and said he will

resign when the Psychiatric Society picks another psychiatrist to

replace him.

" I thought I did a good job of representing the patients of the

Society and for the interest of psychiatric patients, " he said. " I

have not heard otherwise. "

Vukelich, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society's executive

director, praised Simon's service but said there were concerns that

he would have to sit out key votes under the new policy. She said the

organization is grappling more broadly with the influence of

business, including the drug industry, on medicine.

" It's bigger than just one appointee or one situation, " she said.

Ethics experts have said the links between Minnesota's drug advisers

and the industry raise the possibility of similar arrangements in

other states. But tracing the influence is difficult: Outside of

Minnesota, only Vermont and Maine require drug companies to report

payments to doctors for speeches, consulting and other services.

Hosted by Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

[Guest guest]

No, Jim...sorry to disillusion you but he won't be repaying any of the

money...or losing his tropical tan to prison pallor. I know this is a shock to

you, but it's the truth in this one case. I'm sure many, many, many of the

crooks involved in this type of corruption are rotting in prison right now

though, so all is not lost.

What?!?!?! What's that you say? None of these crooks are doing time?!?!?!?!?

What about the lost lives? What about the destroyed families? What about the

violation of the public trust?

Terry

Jim <mofunnow@...> wrote:

I guess he isn't going to return the money....

Or go to jail.

(on the take) Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

By MARTIGA LOHN - 5 days ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota psychiatrist who received more

than $350,000 in speaking and consulting fees from pharmaceutical

companies will quit a panel that advises the state on drugs for low-

income Medicaid patients.

Dr. E. Simon said on Wednesday that he will resign because the

organization that originally asked him to serve, the Minnesota

Psychiatric Society, was " a little uncomfortable with the appearance

of conflict of interest " posed by his panel membership.

Financial relationships between the drug industry and two panel

members, including Simon, came to light when The Associated Press

reviewed disclosure records filed by drug companies under a

pioneering state law. Eli Lilly & Co. and other drug makers paid

Simon more than $350,000 in honoraria and fees while he was serving

on the Minnesota Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee. Another adviser

who resigned last year got $78,000.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking the panel

members to sign off on a new policy requiring them to reveal " real or

perceived " conflicts of interest, including honoraria, compensation,

free travel or other perks from drug companies within the past five

years.

They must abstain from voting on " any related matters that may come

before the committee. "

Department spokeswoman Smigielski said committee members are

expected to approve the new policy before their next meeting on

Tuesday.

The panel advises the human services agency on roughly $240 million

worth of drugs for more than 200,000 patients, most of them mentally

ill or disabled.

Simon said his work as a paid speaker didn't influence his decisions

on the committee. He joined the panel in mid-2004, and said he will

resign when the Psychiatric Society picks another psychiatrist to

replace him.

" I thought I did a good job of representing the patients of the

Society and for the interest of psychiatric patients, " he said. " I

have not heard otherwise. "

Vukelich, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society's executive

director, praised Simon's service but said there were concerns that

he would have to sit out key votes under the new policy. She said the

organization is grappling more broadly with the influence of

business, including the drug industry, on medicine.

" It's bigger than just one appointee or one situation, " she said.

Ethics experts have said the links between Minnesota's drug advisers

and the industry raise the possibility of similar arrangements in

other states. But tracing the influence is difficult: Outside of

Minnesota, only Vermont and Maine require drug companies to report

payments to doctors for speeches, consulting and other services.

Hosted by Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

[Guest guest]

Exactly.

No, Jim...sorry to disillusion you but he won't be repaying any of the

money...or losing his tropical tan to prison pallor. I know this is a shock

to you, but it's the truth in this one case. I'm sure many, many, many of

the crooks involved in this type of corruption are rotting in prison right

now though, so all is not lost.

What?!?!?! What's that you say? None of these crooks are doing

time?!?!?!?!?

What about the lost lives? What about the destroyed families? What about

the violation of the public trust?

Terry

Jim <mofunnow@...> wrote:

I guess he isn't going to return the money....

Or go to jail.

(on the take) Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

Minn. Psychiatrist Quits Drug Panel

By MARTIGA LOHN - 5 days ago

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota psychiatrist who received more

than $350,000 in speaking and consulting fees from pharmaceutical

companies will quit a panel that advises the state on drugs for low-

income Medicaid patients.

Dr. E. Simon said on Wednesday that he will resign because the

organization that originally asked him to serve, the Minnesota

Psychiatric Society, was " a little uncomfortable with the appearance

of conflict of interest " posed by his panel membership.

Financial relationships between the drug industry and two panel

members, including Simon, came to light when The Associated Press

reviewed disclosure records filed by drug companies under a

pioneering state law. Eli Lilly & Co. and other drug makers paid

Simon more than $350,000 in honoraria and fees while he was serving

on the Minnesota Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee. Another adviser

who resigned last year got $78,000.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services is asking the panel

members to sign off on a new policy requiring them to reveal " real or

perceived " conflicts of interest, including honoraria, compensation,

free travel or other perks from drug companies within the past five

years.

They must abstain from voting on " any related matters that may come

before the committee. "

Department spokeswoman Smigielski said committee members are

expected to approve the new policy before their next meeting on

Tuesday.

The panel advises the human services agency on roughly $240 million

worth of drugs for more than 200,000 patients, most of them mentally

ill or disabled.

Simon said his work as a paid speaker didn't influence his decisions

on the committee. He joined the panel in mid-2004, and said he will

resign when the Psychiatric Society picks another psychiatrist to

replace him.

" I thought I did a good job of representing the patients of the

Society and for the interest of psychiatric patients, " he said. " I

have not heard otherwise. "

Vukelich, the Minnesota Psychiatric Society's executive

director, praised Simon's service but said there were concerns that

he would have to sit out key votes under the new policy. She said the

organization is grappling more broadly with the influence of

business, including the drug industry, on medicine.

" It's bigger than just one appointee or one situation, " she said.

Ethics experts have said the links between Minnesota's drug advisers

and the industry raise the possibility of similar arrangements in

other states. But tracing the influence is difficult: Outside of

Minnesota, only Vermont and Maine require drug companies to report

payments to doctors for speeches, consulting and other services.

Hosted by Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved