Sackler Immunity and the Purdue Pharma Settlement

SCOTUS court watchers were a little shocked that the Court blocked the Purdue Pharma / Sackler settlement – even if temporarily – and there is a lot of buzz about how they will answer this question: whether the Bankruptcy Code authorizes a court to approve, as part of a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 […]

Hey, Pharma: What if cholesterol is not related to serious heart disease? Would you even tell us?

A BMJ study published in 2015 concluded that High LDL-C is inversely associated with mortality in most people over 60 years. This finding is inconsistent with the cholesterol hypothesis. You can find the BMJ study here: Lack of an association or an inverse association between low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review While […]

More Opioid Settlements

From New Hampshire’s DOJ: In 2018, the state filed a complaint against J&J, alleging the company misrepresented their opioids as safer than other alternatives in their aggressive marketing campaign to prescribers and patients in New Hampshire. The state further alleged that J&J misrepresented their opioids as rarely addictive, negligently promoted the concept of pseudoaddiction, and […]

Another Big Pharma Opioid Decision

I keep track of the successes and losses of opioid victims. While many victims have logged successes, courts continue to shield Big Pharma in some cases. Here is one of my favorite (and shortest) posts on my blog about the opioid epidemic and its aftermath. Normal Like You (More Opioid Fallout: Pharmacies Are Next On […]

A SCOTUS Victory For Pill Mill Doctors

I originally posted about this argument before SCOTUS in March here: Physician Liability for #OUD (Arguments in Ruan v. US) The High Court ruled in favor of the pill mill prescribers, setting aside their 25 year prison sentences. “After a defendant produces evidence that he or she was authorized to dispense controlled substances, the government […]

The Companies Making Billions Off The Opioid Epidemic Want You To Know They Are (Really) Sorrry (Really)

“While our intent was not to fuel the epidemic, we failed to recognize the broader context of what was going on in society around us,” said Bob Sternfels, who assumed his role as global managing partner leading the 38,000-employee firm in July 2021. “That’s why we have new protocols and policies in place to prevent […]

Lee Health Loves Damage Caps, But Only for Itself. Everyone Else Is Expected to Pay Full Freight.

The news is that two Florida public hospitals want in – at the last minute – on the State’s opioid lawsuit. They’re afraid they may get cut off from money available arising out of the opioid prescriptions filled out by their employees. Judge Denies Sarasota Hospital and Lee Health Motion Intervene in Opioid Settlement I’ve […]

Physician Liability for #OUD (Arguments in Ruan v. US)

Convicted doctors argued their appeal in the United States Supreme Court the other day. At issue are jury instructions given in their case and the standard imposed by the trial court. For nearly 90 minutes on Tuesday, the court grappled with the question of whether good faith is a defense for doctors criminally prosecuted for […]

Normal Like You (More Opioid Fallout: Pharmacies Are Next On The List)

“Today, medical science recognizes That some folks aren’t helped by relaxing exercises. In cases of difficult tension, And nervous apprehension, Doctors are now prescribing medicine. It makes those who fear they’re about to quit Feel like they’re ready to begin. Bidding their darkened spirits goodbye For the calming peace of a cloudless sky.” Everclear, Ataraxia […]

Shkreli’s Quality Fraud (is not a one-off)

This legal concept is used by the Department of Justice to recover lost, wasted, or stolen money in the health care market. In 2016, I blogged about it in the context of prescription drug costs right here. I was watching a Netflix show last night and Martin Shkreli (played by an actor) made an appearance […]