Note: We greatly appreciate international support, but US signatures only please! Only US signatures will influence congress in this matter.
Drug marketing is out of control. Help send a message to Congress.
Support the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which will require drug companies to publicly report their gifts and payments to doctors.
Drug companies spend at least $25 billion each year marketing to doctors. We pay for that with every drug we buy. And studies prove that marketing causes doctors to prescribe higher-cost drugs. Some new drugs also have safety risks (like Vioxx). By increasing transparency, the Sunshine Act will help protect patients and help counter the skyrocketing costs of drugs.
Sign this petition today to ask your members of Congress to support these bills. Shine a light on undue influence by the drug industry.
(See letter link at left for petition text) For more information on:
the Sunshine Act House and Senate bills click here
the National Coalition for Appropriate Prescribing click here
Note: We greatly appreciate international support, but US signatures only please! Only US signatures will influence congress in this matter.
Drug marketing is out of control. Help send a message to Congress.
Support the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which will require drug companies to publicly report their gifts and payments to doctors.
Drug companies spend at least $25 billion each year marketing to doctors. We pay for that with every drug we buy. And studies prove that marketing causes doctors to prescribe higher-cost drugs. Some new drugs also have safety risks (like Vioxx). By increasing transparency, the Sunshine Act will help protect patients and help counter the skyrocketing costs of drugs.
Sign this petition today to ask your members of Congress to support these bills. Shine a light on undue influence by the drug industry.
(See letter link at left for petition text) For more information on:
the Sunshine Act House and Senate bills click here
the National Coalition for Appropriate Prescribing click here
We the undersigned support the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which would require drug and medical device companies to publicly report their gifts and payments to doctors.
Drug companies alone spend at least $25 billion per year marketing to doctors. Not only are these costs passed on to consumers (that $25 billion is built in to the cost of every drug we buy) but published evidence clearly shows that marketing spending shifts doctors toward higher cost and sometimes less-safe drugs.
As consumers and taxpayers, we ask you to help pass this Act to protect patients and begin reigning in the skyrocketing costs of drugs.
We signed the "Shine a Light on Drug Industry Influence" petition!
# 499:
2:06 pm PDT, Oct 22,Lamothe Coly, Senegal
Translator of English and French
# 498:
1:19 am PDT, Oct 21,Frances M. Amaya, Texas
# 497:
12:29 am PDT, Oct 21,Mary Jo Eshelman, Ohio
God gives us natural ways which are free! It's outrageous how much today's medicines cost. There is absolutely no reason it should cost so much to be well. What is this cost for? Research (on animals, usually...which is not necessary at all) and on Advertising...Tons and tons of advertising. Why should something good have to work so hard to be sold? There's a lot wrong with what's going on and the consumer is the one to pay...people depending on these medications...losing their homes and their savings to pay these horrendously inflated costs...sometimes even dying for lack of a way to pay. People pay dearly to buy these drugs, they at least deserve to know WHY...and they also deserve to know if the doctor is possibly prescribing the drug because there's a fat dollar amount in it for them! These medications carry side-effects which could be deadly. People have a right to make the most informed choice they can make. ~Vibraceous ND, Doctor of Naturopathy and Interfaith Healing Minister
# 496:
4:50 pm PDT, Oct 18,Elizabeth Castro, California
# 495:
8:43 am PDT, Oct 18,V Eddy, United Kingdom
# 494:
10:47 am PDT, Oct 14,Freddie Geisler, Florida
# 493:
6:49 pm PDT, Oct 13,Name not displayed, Arkansas
My wife is a vioxx surviver
# 492:
2:19 pm PDT, Oct 13,Renata Galvan, Texas
Renata Galvan
# 491:
1:52 pm PDT, Oct 13,Victoria Carbone, New York
vioxx is killing me do they care i dont think so
# 490:
11:09 am PDT, Oct 13,Francis Paul, Maine
# 489:
10:06 am PDT, Oct 13,Colleen Gross, California
# 488:
9:14 am PDT, Oct 13,Name not displayed, Texas
# 487:
8:39 am PDT, Oct 13,Name not displayed, Kentucky
# 486:
8:29 am PDT, Oct 13,Richard Hoidal, Washington
Retired and a victum of a stroke caused by VIOXX
# 485:
8:10 am PDT, Oct 13,Ann Meadlin, California
Vioxx Settlement
# 484:
5:15 am PDT, Oct 13,Nathan Wilkins, Texas
I was 50yrs. old when I was stricken pulmonary embolysms in both lungs, and was left with severly injured left side heart damage. I took 25mgs.dailey vioxx for 1 year and then 50mgs. for another year. Been on disability 7 yrs.
# 483:
5:09 am PDT, Oct 13,Maria Kirk, New Jersey
My name is Maria Kirk. I lost my mother on September 20, 2004 (a few days before the posion was pulled off the market) from a heart attack as a result of taking Vioxx for years. Merck hid many facts about the drug all for their greed and bottom line. My mother should never have been on Vioxx at all..... Thanks Merck for taking her away from us way before her time. She died of a massive heart attack in front of my 4 year old son and mentally ill brother. I hope it was worth it.....
# 482:
2:59 am PDT, Oct 13,Dennis Harrison, New York
A quote from a physician I heard about before he knew (or anyone else was made aware) - I wish I had a lot of stock in this company. It is time to STOP pharms sales rep "educating" physicians with "general overall safety" generalities, and downplaying the details....being trained by their companies how to dodge questions, how to shake hands, how to eat, how to listen, etc. - (like Dodge Ball). For once, sell the drugs on their merits, not on glitz and corruption. All that money spent on advetisement, and anyone in the know understands that 1/2 of it is FRAUDULENT! How about putting that 1/2 in R&D instead of complaining about proper retribution to individuals so severely damaged by vIOXX. Only a modicum of retribution stops pharma from taking over 1/2 of the GNP, which I am sure they would love. Take vIOXX as an example - Drs. were wined/dined and LIED TO. Meanwhile the MDL, PSC, Merck and the biggie law firms colluded to provide coverup for the murderous acts of Merck. Merck did (alleged I have to say) plan for 25,000 deaths without warning or educating. Problem is that nearly 200,000 were killed or maimed (and the number is likely higher). The physicians were duped, the patients were killed, Merck continued its patterns of (alleged again..) neglect, deceift, fraudulent marketing, cover up, interfering with justice investigation, collusive and corrupt relationships with legal and the courts, PATTERNS (hear RICO) of planning to MURDER and Maime time, and time again. They are exempt as there is NO criminal law for the drug companies; and CIVIL LAWS are basically unenforceable, laywers know that! ONLY CONGRESS CAN CREATE a REAL LAW ONE, and not avoid it THIS TIME like their last chance to do right by their constitutents. The FDA reforms - nothing but a patchwork of ineffective make believe toughhess so Congress can look like it is doing something. Come on Congress, give he FDA at least $1B (make Merck pay for it) so the good people at the FDA can fix themselves, they know how to best, and please let them! Tell MERCK TO BACK OFF, and find a non collusive and corrupt way to fund the FDA on a permanent basis - without ANY influence from those with the most to gain by brow beating and ignoring the paper tiger (now) FDA - I refer to the drug companies, of which Merck is the WORST. Do it now, protect the public for gosh sake. And do it REAL, not patchwork. Please protect what is left of our shattered lives and protect our children. I don't wish it, I pray not, but YOU Congress, could be next with yourself or a loved one, how about the death of a child, we have that in vIOXX also - and get this, the MERCK DOMINATED "gate process" is so colluded and Merck dominated, it doesn't even include this poor woman who's son obviously died form the clotting factor sensitivity and the resulting Pulmonary Embolism - where is any sense of decency. Then, as some in Congress have experienced, you will also realized something is terribly wrong. I'd sure like to have some input, and know many intelligent people that could fix this, as well as the ill fated, corrupt, and collued "new" way of settling like the grossly unfair and disgusting Merck "settlement" (DEAL). Come on, please do something! Lastly, in case you do not know it likely at least 40,000 broken bones and spines (and operations DID NOT HEAL) because vIOXX is well known to stop the healing process. But Merck, their position is still to ignore it.
# 481:
3:38 pm PDT, Oct 12,Cleo Gilbert, Kentucky
I am a teacher and almost lost my life to the drug Vioxx. I was never warned about the possible side-effects and my doctors and myself were totally in the dark as to why I had my heart attack. Only after I stopped the Vioxx and discovered others were suffering the same non-explainable symptoms did I realize although the Vioxx helped with arthirits pain.... I almost died. Other cheaper drugs would have given me the same pain relief without the heart attack as an added bonus...
# 480:
8:29 pm PDT, Oct 11,Bryan Shortnacy, Mississippi
i was 42 when i had 2 heart attacks the same day, after taking vioxx for a little over 2 yr.i am involved in the settlement and feel the shaft coming again,GEE i hope they use vaseline this time!!!!!
# 479:
6:29 pm PDT, Oct 11,William Clark, Maine
# 478:
5:08 pm PDT, Oct 11,Name not displayed, Michigan
My son was on vioxx when he developed blood clots and died. But Merck refuses to admit guilt.
# 477:
1:25 pm PDT, Oct 11,William Lunden, California
Construction Electrician My only comment is "If only we had known the possible dangers of vioxx,things would be very different today"
# 476:
8:56 am PDT, Oct 11,Name not displayed, Michigan
I suffered a heart attack after taking vioxx for almost 3 years.
# 475:
8:42 am PDT, Oct 11,Name not displayed, Georgia
I was a painting contractor before taking vioxx. Now, I'm a homebody reading martha stewart e-mails. I had a quadruple bypass. Within one day they had me in the hospital and I was operated on. I did'nt have very much time to even think about it. Never had any medical problems that I knew about. I can't wait to see what they try to pull on me as far as any deductions go. I won't just sit by and take it. I'll be their worst nightmare. I'll spend the rest of my life taking them to task on any issue I hear about. Hope this does'nt sound too vindictine, but I'm pissed.
# 474:
8:41 am PDT, Oct 11,Gary Freeman, Indiana
Environmental Scientist for the State of Indiana.
# 473:
8:22 am PDT, Oct 11,Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 472:
8:13 am PDT, Oct 11,Susan Smith, New Jersey
FDA approval of a drug by no means indicates it's safety. I took vIOXX and had a heart attack, many stents and bypass surgery as an apparent result. What made it so tragic was the FACT that the drug's manufacturer KNEW there were dangers associated with the drug and they kept the truth hidden to boost their bottom line.
# 471:
7:46 am PDT, Oct 11,Douglas Orange, Alabama
I was in great health till I starting taking that vioxx, was working and careing for my kids and was struck down with a heart attack. Have not worked sence and just turned 50 and this all happened while I was 42
# 470:
7:11 am PDT, Oct 11,Rhonda Radler, Texas
My 62 year old mother was in good health before starting to take the drug vioxx. She is gone and we are left with a few thousand dollars to compensate? We are furious and would give anything we had, or ever will have to have her with us again.
# 469:
7:09 am PDT, Oct 11,Name not displayed, Indiana
# 468:
6:48 am PDT, Oct 11,Ginny PICKETT, Maryland
Plaintiff
# 467:
1:44 am PDT, Oct 7,Dee C., New York
# 466:
2:46 pm PDT, Oct 2,McCoy Burford, California
Humans are weak in the face of expert marketing - There is NO reason to expose the citizens of our dear nation to drug marketing.
# 465:
2:34 am PDT, Sep 25,Simos Tarabatzis, Greece
Optional: please note your occupation and/or organizational affiliation
# 464:
9:32 am PDT, Sep 23,Michelle Mullin, Arizona
# 463:
2:29 am PDT, Sep 22,Dr Premraj P, India
62/103, pranavam, kochi, kerala, india, 682018
# 462:
2:28 am PDT, Sep 22,Dr Premraj PUSHPAKARAN, India
62/103, pranavam, kochi, kerala, india, 682018
# 461:
5:34 am PDT, Sep 19,Sue Whitney, California
Pharmaceuticals is a 300 billion dollar industry the money they pay to doctors should extend to everyone they pay. The government and FDA do absolutely nothing about this. www.votenader.org for Constitutional rights
# 460:
9:22 am PDT, Sep 18,Name not displayed, Massachusetts
# 459:
11:07 am PDT, Sep 11,Name not displayed, California
# 458:
12:36 pm PDT, Sep 10,Pegi Emiliani, Illinois
i am a homemaker.
i believe that drug companies mass advertising campaigns were instrumental in the beginning of a downward spiral in our medical system.
please help stop this attrocity.
there is no earthly reason people should be asking their doctors for drugs.
# 457:
8:58 am PDT, Sep 7,Erin Shields, Massachusetts
# 456:
8:50 am PDT, Sep 7,Alysia Reiner, New York
# 455:
7:01 am PDT, Sep 7,Marguerite Bouvard, Massachusetts
I spend a great deal of time in France where the government pays for its citizens medications. How do the government afford to do so, by bargaining with the drug companies. The same companies, such a Merck sell the same products there for a fraction of the price. They do not finance medical journals or bribe physicians. In Taiwan, France, Germany, and many other countries, people get the care they deserve and the drug companies behave with responsibility. Greed and health care make dreadful combinations.
# 454:
3:33 pm PDT, Sep 6,Name not displayed, Massachusetts
As a DES Daughter, I am horrified by the relentless drug ads on TV, drug company paraphenelia at my doctor's office, and all expenses paid vacations and lunches for doctors (bills footed by the drug companies, of course). The government and FDA let Big Pharma sell DES to unsuspecting pregnant women for decades. You dropped the ball then. Don't drop the ball now. Tell Big Pharma to back off!
# 453:
4:23 am PDT, Aug 28,Name not displayed, New York
Attorney
# 452:
9:39 am PDT, Aug 16,Melissa Harry, Minnesota
MSW student and Endometriosis/ovarian cyst sufferer who spent a clinically unsuccessful year of hell on Lupron thanks to uninhibited pharmaceutical marketing practices targeted at OB/GYNs.
# 451:
10:10 am PDT, Aug 9,Andi Alnwick, New York
# 450:
6:25 pm PDT, Aug 7,Connie Brooks, New Jersey
# 449:
9:07 pm PDT, Aug 6,Cheryl Atwell, Missouri
The reason this is getting out of control is pure profit and greed. Alot of politicians and International Bankers have their hands in the investment. The more patients on prescriptions the more money they make.
