Let us then look at a very human failing. The desire for hard cash.
Doctors are human and it is to be expected that some will overlook the
benefit of the patient or even common humanity in their desire for financial
reward. Dr. Crockett was found guilty by the GMC of trading in kidney transplants
and making large profits from the transactions. In Argentine the records
of some 200 people have been investigated under suspicion that some or
all were killed in hospital and their organs sold world wide for transplant
services. "Only a tiny minority of consultants are 'ripping off' the NHS
" said Dr. McFarlane a consultant obstetrician. As these people can legitimately
earn in excess of £135,000 per yr one feels that money rather than
compassion must motivate them.
18 out of 24 members of the Governments Medicines Commission which is responsible for monitoring the pharmaceutical industry receive some form of financial favour from the drug companies. Four multinational drug companies have been reprimanded for entertaining doctors with golf ,motor racing, boating and skiing trips in an effort to boost drug sales. A television producer said that the facts suggested that this abuse was widespread.
In Sheffield in 1985 some 200 doctors were asked to return more than
100,000 pounds fraudulently claimed for giving contraceptive advice to
non existent patients. In one year the Medical Defence Union paid out 25,800,000
pounds in settlement of claims . In one a GP over prescribed malaria tablets
by 700% causing stomach pains, vomiting, vertigo and impaired vision -
all handicaps one could do without on a holiday. The development of drugs
is an expensive business - and an illogical one. Instanced by the fact
that a diuretic synthesised from dandelion depletes the potassium reserves
of the body - but the dandelion is rich in potassium. However the trade
of multinational drug companies is measured in billions of dollars. It
is small wonder then that the pressure generated by this need to produce
and sell for profit means that corners are cut , ethics go out of the window
on test results and dubious methods are used to pressure GP's. Scientific
results are "edited " to conform to the regulations and standards set by
the Federal Drugs Admin and the UK Medicines Control Agency etc. Prof.
Stuart Sutherland says that in "surveys in Britain and America show that
only about 25% of scientists are prepared to provide their original data
when requested. Unless there is something to hide there is no reason for
such refusal. One can only conclude that scientific fraud is extremely
widespread."
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