Gov. Patrick Bashes the Consumer Again

Bruce Bierhans — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:46:31 GMT

Overlooked to a large degree during his campaign for Massachusetts Governor, was Deval Patricks role on the Board of Directors of Ameriquest at the same time it was creating and marketing the subprime loan products that have destryoyed the international economy. The press, inexplicably,gave him a free ride. Once again, when it comes to the consumer, Patrick has shown that he is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Today, the Boston Globe reports that the Mass. DPH is proposing regulations that would exempt from public disclosure certain payments by pharmas and medical device companies to physicians receiving remuneration from those companies. Consumer advocates, including many physician led organizations have long opposed such exemptions and seek regulations requiring full disclosure of the relationships between physicians and drug and medical device companies.

In a case we are currently litigating involving suicide and antidepressants, we learned that the defense expert was receiving over $1mill a year from antidepressant manufacturers to fund his organization, as well as his $100k per year salary.

While the Patrick administration claims that the regs will constitute the strictest disclosure law in the country, there are many ways in which the proposed regs can be circumvented so as to not dicsclose large research grants and other financial payments.

The administrations' acts are shameful and Patrick shows, once again, that he is an advocate for corporate America, not the consumer. Perhaps if Mr. Patrick gets nominated for a position in the Obama administration , his true allegiances will be explored by members of Congress that are real advocates for their constituents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bruce Bierhans

Stoughton / Canton Area Personal Injury Lawyer - physicians and drug companies

Gov. Patrick Bashes the Consumer Again