Resource Center

Stories

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 "pharmaceutical" ...

  • C-HIT: Pharma Perks

    The Affordable Care Act requires pharmaceutical companies to publicly report all payments to physicians by September 2013. Some drug companies have already compiled, but few consumers know that the information is available or how to access it. What this story did is disclose for the first time for CT consumers: 1) how many doctors in Connecticut are high-prescribers of certain psychotropic and pain medications, (108) 2) the cost of written prescriptions (hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases) 3) how many of these doctors received payments from drug companies (at least 43) 4) and the amounts that the doctors received from the drug companies ($30,000 - $99,000) It also reported that only 3 doctors on the high-prescribing drug list have been disciplined by the state Medical Examining Board.

    Tags: Affordable Care Act; pharmacy; physicians; prescriptions; drugs; Medical Examining Board

    By Lisa Chedekel

    Conn. Health Investigative Team

    2012

  • Cracks in the Empire: Inside Johnson & Johnson

    Johnson & Johnson, the gold standard of corporate America for its single-minded devotion to its customers, is fending off federal, state and consumer allegations that the company harmed and cheated the ill. The Press found that the New Brunswick, NJ-based copmany set its sights in the last decade on making record profits but at a high cosst. Its main OTC pain reliever company was shut down in part for being too dirty. Thousands of hip replacement patients say the device failed inside their bodies, causing them great pain.

    Tags: Johnson & Johnson; pain relievers; drugs; pharmaceuticals

    By Michael L. Diamond; Paul D'Ambrosio

    Asbury Park Press

    2011

  • "Physicians on Pharma's Payroll: Educators or Marketers?"

    This story focuses on doctors as industry speakers and their relationship with pharmaceutical companies. The pharmaceutical companies claim to choose speakers based on expertise, but further investigation shows that many of the hired physicians have "serious transgressions on their state records." They also tend to be "high prescribers" of the company's products.

    Tags: pharmacy; prescriptions; Geodon; Pfizer; antipsychotic drugs; pharmaceutical companies; Department of Health; New York; Food and Drug Administration

    By Ailsa Chang; Gisele Regatao

    WNYC

    2010

  • Behind the Label

    This documentary exposes an unregulated system that financially rewards the overmedication of children with antipsychotic drugs. "Some states, doctors, agencies and even certain foster parents profit at the expense of children's health - driven by complicated state funding formulas and the influence of the pharmaceutical industry."

    Tags: children; pharmaceuticals; antipsychotic drugs; prescriptions; adolescents; Medicaid;

    By Mar Cabra; Sarah Fitzpatrick

    Columbia University

    2010

  • Dollars for Docs

    The series investigates the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and the physicians they pay to serve as their speakers and consultants. ProPublica created a searchable database on its website that allows members of the public to see whether their doctors have been paid by one of seven pharmaceutical companies.

    Tags: pharmaceutical companies; drugs; drug sales; widget; speakers

    By Charles Ornstein, Tracy Weber, Dan Nguyen

    ProPublica

    2010

  • Side Effects

    The author examines the conflicts of interest within the medical community and the influence of pharmaceutical companies on doctors and researchers. The series shows the dangerous consequences that come when drug companies pay doctors and researchers to endorse their products. An inquiry by a U.S. Senate committee, as well as policy reform at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health were results of this investigation.

    Tags: pharmaceutical companies; drug companies; medicine; conflict of interest; doctors

    By John Fauber

    Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    2010

  • Bad Bargain

    This article identifies several people who suffered consequences after switching from brand name drugs to generic ones. Furthermore, this article identifies loopholes that allow these generic drugs to reach the market. These generics, many of us believe are the same as the brand name ones, are actual substandard and un-equivalent.

    Tags: Prescriptions; Drugs; Generic; Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Insurance companies; Brand Name; Doctors; Pharmacy; Pharmaceuticals

    By Katherine Eban; Sara Austin; Patrica Singer; Carla Levy; Lucy S. Danziger

    Self (New York, NY)

    2009

  • "Big Pharma's Crime Spree"

    David Evans investigates the criminal activity of some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Drug companies are fined billions of dollars for illegally marketing their products, yet continue to do it. Evans asks why.

    Tags: Pfizer; Eli Lilly; pharmaceutical; FDA; drugs; Zyprexa; medicaton

    By David Evans

    Bloomberg Markets (Princeton, N.J.)

    2009

  • 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

    By Angie Marek

    Smart Money Magazine

    2008

  • Brian Ross Investigates: Disposable Heroes

    In a joint investigation with The Washington Times, ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross revealed that mentally distressed veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan were being recruited by the Veterans Administration for tests on pharmaceutical drugs linked to suicide and other violent side effects.

    Tags: Chantix; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; suicide; veterans; drug protocols; Pfizer; pharmaceutical drugs; violent side effects

    By Brian Ross; Vic Walter; Audrey Hudson; Asa Eslocker; Rhonda Schwartz

    ABC News

    2008