Vermont & New Hampshire Injury Blog

Vermont Acts to Make Drug Makers’ Gifts Public

Legislators in Vermont just passed a bill that would make it illegal for pharmaceutical
companies to give “meals, gifts, and other relationships” to doctors in exchange for
brand loyalty. An article in the New York Times states, “the new law would let Vermonters
learn each year which doctors have been paid, and how much, by the makers of brand-name
drugs from which they wrote prescriptions.”

Meant to discourage the influence of marketing efforts on doctors, the bill asserts,
that the company’s drug is used more often than a competitor’s even when evidence indicates
that another drug would be more beneficial, less expensive and safer.

The top 100 recipients received on average $17,700 each but that only counted 17% of the
gifts because the other 83% was hidden from public view by a trade secret exemption in
state law. Some doctors received over $100,000 dollars in gifts. How could that not
influence their practice?

When you are ill and must see a doctor, it is a team effort between your medical
professionals and yourself. If something doesn’t sound right to you, speak up, ask
questions, and get clarification. It is your right to understand what the doctor is
prescribing to you whether it is a drug or a course of action. Mistakes can lead to
wrongful death.

If you want aggressive and expert pursuit of your medical malpractice claim and full
recovery of all damages you are owed due to the negligence of a doctor or healthcare
professional, call Van Dorn & Curtiss  at 1-866-632-8980 for a consultation. Trust the
lawyers other lawyers trust, and call Van Dorn & Curtiss today.