The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "drug representatives" ...
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Peddling Pills
"'Peddling Pills' investigated the relationship between doctors and the country's 100,000 pharmaceutical sale representatives, exploring how drug reps have continued to influence doctors' prescribing habits despite a much-publicized earlier crackdown on their sales tactics."
Tags: pharmaceutical sales; medicine; Big Pharma; ethics; physicians; doctors; drug representatives; drug rep; pharmaceutical marketing
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Inside the happiness business
New York reports on the aggressive marketing of drugs, and antidepressants in particular. The story looks at the techniques used by drug sales representatives to attract doctors' attention to the new medications available on the market. The promotion strategies - including free lunches, vacations and gifts - have convinced many doctors to start prescribing a new drug despite some evidence of potential side effects, the investigation reveals. The article focuses on the sales of the newest antidepressant in the U.S.A., Celexa, originally developed by a small Danish company in 1972. The reporter points to the concerns of Dr. Robert Goodman who has started a 'no-free-lunch' campaign against the practices of the drug sales reps.
Tags: Prozac; Zoloft; Paxil; health; doctors; patients; psychiatry; corruption; Pfizer; FDA; depression; weight gain; American Psychiatric Association
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Drug Dealer
The American Prospect looks at a conflict-of-interest case involving Representative Bill Thomas, "the California Republican who currently chairs the House Ways and Means Committee" and the giant pharmaceutical company Ely Lilly. The story examines the circumstances at which Thomas wrote his bill on Medicare and a proposed prescription-drug benefit, which favor the big pharmaceutical companies. The major findings are that Ely Lilly was Thomas' number-one contributor in the last elections, and that the politician has been involved in a romantic relationship with Deborah Steelman, the new vice president for corporate affairs for Ely Lilly and former best-connected health care lobbyist. "How the House Republicans, Senate Democrats and President Bush handle the issue could easily sway the outcome of the 2002 elections," the analysis finds.
Tags: pharmaceuticals; drug makers; fund-raising; contributions; PACs; medicines; health insurers; Republican; Democrats; politics
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A Sheltered Life
A Phoenix Magazine investigation finds that "families represent the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in Arizona..." The story reveals that nearly 40 percent of the homeless people in Maricopa County are families with children, :a statistic that mirrors the national trend." The report finds that even if "they may not look like stereotypical street people ... for them, every day is a fight to put a roof over their heads." It also profiles a number of homeless families and their personal tragedies, and looks at the psychological effects that many homeless children suffer from
Tags: children; shelters; health care; unemployment; drugs; depression; low-income housing; police; crime; violence; mental health; poverty
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AIDS Epidemic Traps Drug Firms in a Vise: Treatment vs. Profits
Wall Street Journals examines the controversies involved in the protection of the patents rights of American pharmaceutical companies abroad. The story details the legal battle of drug manufacturers against a South African law, under which the country "can import cheap, generic versions of patented medicines - including powerful new drugs for treating AIDS - without permission from the patent owner." The report describes the desire of drug companies "to be seen as helping fight the global AIDS crisis" vs. their two main fears - "if the South Africa law is allowed to stand, other countries will be emboldened to pursue similar legislation," and if "poor countries are allowed to buy low-priced drugs, American consumers will demand the same." It also reveals that the "U.S. government is no longer standing firmly behind" the drug companies, although the industry has spent about $ 80 million "to help elect president Bush and a Republican Congress."
Tags: U.S. Trade Representative; health; medicine; HIV. AIDS; Medicines Act; patents; intellectual property; WTO
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When the bough breaks
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports "Parents in Beaver County whose children are put in foster care face a big problem: The county's Children and Youth Services and the courts end parents' legal rights twice as quickly as the national average -- especially when the children are infants... Attorneys who represent clients in Beaver County also have complained that the court and CYS are too closely connected, and they point to instances in which CYS workers have had improper, out-of-court communications with judges... The majority of cases in Beaver County might have turned out exactly the same even if CYS and the courts had not ignored parents' civil rights and state and federal regulations."
Tags: child welfare; adoption; ACLU; custody juvenile foster care prison; drugs; rehabilitation; neglect; abuse
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Too Many Babies? The Dangerous Rise of Multiple Births
Aggressive fertility treatments have led to an explosion in multiple births. But few women who take fertility drugs really know the serious risks they face - for themselves and their babies. The situation has become so alarming that the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a professional society representing the majority of U.S. fertility clinics, is trying now to rein in its practitioners.
Tags: Fertility treatment; infertility
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No title (id: 12705)
In early 1995, the Dallas County courthouse raged with paranoia. Robert Rose--a natorious defense attorney with a reputaion for living well off the cash he collected representing drug dealers--endered a secret plea to federal charges of tax evasion. The plea was sealed for five months, presumably while Rose cooperated with federal investigators plumbing allegations of courhouse corruption. Rumors of payoffs and kickbacks abounded, and one local television station swent so far as to report that the indictment of four judges on corruption charges was imminent. Mysterious affidavits surfaced, in which a questionable informant claimed to have seen two prominent judges accept cash payoffs. (Aug. 24, 1995)
Tags: Pasztor Whose afraid of Robert Rose Contest entry 10 pgs
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No title (id: 6733)
Newsweek maps out the activities of the Colombia drug cartels in the United States; shows how and where they do business, who the players are, the U.S. attorneys who represent them, and two countries' impotent efforts to stop the cartels, Nov. 13, 1989.
Tags: Miller Moranthau
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No title (id: 6653)
Easton (Pa.) Express exposes contradictions in a gubernatorial candidate's campaign; using court records and campaign contribution forms, reporters found attorney Jim Courter, a self-described environmentalist who had slammed his opponent for representing drug dealers, had represented heroin dealers and industrial polluters, Oct. 6 - 22, 1989.
Tags: None