Health, Fitness and Style
Pharmaceutical Executives Charged in Racketeering Scheme: In Exchange for Bribes, Practitioners wrote Large Numbers of Prescriptions of Subsys for Patients
Several pharmaceutical executives and managers, formerly employed by Insys Therapeutics, Inc., were arrested on charges that they led a nationwide conspiracy to bribe medical practitioners to unnecessarily prescribe a fentanyl-based pain medication and defraud healthcare insurers. The Massachusetts indictment alleges that these executives conspired to bribe practitioners in various states, many of whom operated pain clinics, in order to get them to prescribe a fentanyl-based pain medication. The medication, called “Subsys,” is a powerful narcotic intended to treat cancer patients suffering intense episodes of breakthrough pain. In exchange for bribes and kickbacks, the practitioners wrote large numbers of prescriptions for the patients, most of whom were not diagnosed with cancer. more »
Prescription Drug Labels: Actions Needed to Increase Awareness of Best Practices for Accessible Labels Blind or Visually Impaired
About 7.4 million Americans are blind or visually impaired and may face difficulty reading prescription drug container labels. Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act required the US Access Board to develop best practices for accessible labels and NCD to conduct an informational campaign on these best practices. However, stakeholders GAO contacted said these individuals continue to face barriers accessing drug label information, including identifying pharmacies that can provide accessible labels. more »
"Like Putting an Arsonist in Charge of Fighting Fires"; "[Pruitt] Has Fought Environmental Protection Agency Pollution Limits on Toxic Substances Like Soot and Mercury"
"Polluters would clearly be the ones who benefit from Pruitt being the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. Regular Americans would be the losers. The head of the Environmental Protection Agency should be making sure that our air is clean to breathe and our water is safe to drink, not working to make sure polluters make more money." more »
Hubert de Givenchy and Muse, Audrey Hepburn
'To be back in Holland is always an important moment for me and especially in order to present the exhibition 'To Audrey with Love', an emotional tribute to Audrey Hepburn in her native country and in the great Gemeentemuseum. I am convinced that Audrey would have been very proud and happy with this beautiful project of exhibition. We love you Audrey.' — Hubert de Givenchy more »