A new article in today's New York Times -- "Under Attack, Drug Maker Turned to Giuliani for Help" rehashes an old story about how presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani earned millions of dollars defending Purdue Pharma against charges of illegal promotion of its pain drug, OxyContin, the abuse of which DEA claims has killed hundreds of people -- mostly teenagers (who, incidentally, cannot vote for or against Mr. Giuliani should he win the Republican nomination for president).I've written several posts to Pharma Marketing Blog about this and other questionable ties that Giuliani has had with the pharmaceutical industry that have helped him amass a personal fortune of 30 million dollars.
See for example:
Giuliani, OxyContin, Big Pharma, and Terrorism
Posted: May 11, 2007
My mother-in-law would freak if she read Ed Silverman's Pharmalot Blog piece "OxyContin And...Our Next President?" connecting the OxyContin/Purdue Pharma criminals to presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, who some people equate with The Saviour or at least with the One Who Can Do No Wrong.Terror Politics vs Drug Importation
What's the connection? You'll have to read Ed's piece for the details. [Or read the NY Times article mentioned above.]
This is not the first time, however, that Giuliani has been connected with questionable drug industry practices.
Posted: May 14, 2005
PhRMA commissioned Guiliani Partners to produce a report that called for an immediate moratorium on drug importation legislation (see PhRMA press release: "Giuliani Report Calls for Immediate Moratorium On Drug Importation Legislation."
Credible Sources According to Giuliani, "opening U.S. borders to prescription drugs could provide an unfortunate opportunity for terrorists. ?Several credible sources have identified links between counterfeit goods, including pharmaceuticals, and organized criminals and terrorist groups,"? he said. ?"It is not difficult to imagine a scenario in which terrorist groups could use this system to either finance operations or, worse, as a vehicle of attack.?"
These "credible sources" may be of the same ilk that gave us Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Let's not try to win every policy argument by bringing terrorism into the equation. I think it undermines our vigilance against real terror threats.
I disagree 100% with the blogger's comment that Giuliani drug importation stance would 'undermine our vigilence against real terror threats' by bringing terrorism into the equation. Quite the opposite - it would act to further complete our vigilence for obvious reasons. I question the blogger's ability to be open minded.
ReplyDeleteAre you familiar with Aesop's fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what Giuliani has done on the drug importation issue. Based on NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER (you should read his report), Giuliani would have us waste money and manpower guarding against potential threats rather than using these resources to address actual threats.
Regardless of how important potential vs real threats may be, it is obvious that Giuliani was using terrorism merely as a scare tactic to aid the pharma industry in its fight against re-importation. He continues to the same in the political arena today.
I suggest you read the full post before you state the "obvious."