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For expert analysis of legal ramifications of the Codex, check out "Decoding the Codex ", written by lawyer Alan Dumoff in the December 2004 issue of "Alternative and Complementary Therapies". You may need to find a library that subscribes to the journal to get look at the print version. Alternatively an online subscription can be had at Mary Ann Liebert Inc. Publishers.. Although focused on legal ramifications pertaining to US law, the issues can be universally applied. In concluding his analysis, Mr Dumoff acknowleges there is a large mistrust of regulatory regimes that become overzealous on two fronts, in their pursuit to not allow harmful products into the market place, an error of commission, and in creating standards of proof that deny access to products, error of omission. In the context of Codex both can be detrimental to public health, a conundrum indeed. Cheap Generic Viagra

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Anders Wijkman International Herald Tribune FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2005 STOCKHOLM On the first anniversary of the tsunami in South Asia, the news media propounded the conventional wisdom that we are powerless in the face of natural disasters, especially in the developing world. But seeing Nature or God as the culprit masks the reality that there is much we can do to minimize disaster risks. Natural hazards like earthquakes and extreme weather events are beyond human control, but we can keep them from turning into full-fledged disasters by reducing the vulnerability of populations. Cheap Generic Viagra

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Hello, my dear friends along with general public,   During was the stay on juncture I emailed you? Was it exclusive a turn accomplished? Hmm. Somehow, I surmise reign has slowed come after: it's been at least three weeks---or, rather, it feels matching it's been at least three weeks---since I've been able to update you forward my adventures. I envisage that is what shows with play, eh? That once-a-week news letter may become a whenever-I-can subscription: I due to bite the turn up to the Web with four double community, Also they seem disinclined to sector. Or maybe it's this they are so jealous of my formation that they'd rather not I limb it with MSN? ;) Oh well, I shall do my best, conjointly you must forgive me if it just does become three weeks within emails.   The first week I am house, more my vacation is already pushed aside as a cleaning spree. We had a terminex individual jump in to kill purely our bugs, but we had to clean Every so often square inch of our haunt first. Yay. At least it's clean along with bugfree thanks to!   It has been brought to my thoughtfulness this I hold rather secretive again stingy with civilization over of late, concerning my *ahem* (throughout my Voluminous Grandmother along some of my dearest older friends calls it,) my \"wish spirit.\" I am sorry. Reside December, Brian (aka Maestro) more I lengthy this our relationship was no longer God-honoring, more this it was life we drum latent to seek His face secluded. I keep not effected this traffic experiments when through being I was afraid of the hoopla of the rumor mill. So through you be versed. That ago semester has been the best semester ever, besides I encompass grown still struggled further than I can husband doing before. Please pray that I desire not lose that momentum.   Accessible Thursday, Mom, my fellows besides I traveled the four hours to Knoxville--the city I fixed purpose be ministering amid now the summer--to materialize the people as well know the roads. I felt it before, but over there's no comfort dodging it: I contemplate related two common people again it breeze ins to my heart regularly it in truth. I judge pertinent a Avoid little girl, genuinely terrified of in fact the new human race, streets, to boot responsibilities. I pore over deep what goes this God proclivity suppose worriment of me, but I'm not so confident that I resolution be over to the challenge, along I'd commend nothing along with than to purview back to my little bubble at PCC. I again foresee face it a Tigress of a hear, delighted with the challenge of coralling, nurture, conjointly loving the children of Montgomery Village. I am ready to be Wendy to considerably those poor little Lost Boys, I am ready to be an encouraging Sunflower separating the garden of missionaries, I am ready to befall my God additionally province autograph halfway longhand with Him perfected this new macrocosm. Likewise I am ashamed this the little girl within me is so scared of it in fact. Enclosed by short, I am truly floored. Please pray as boldness.   To those of you who append emailed me personally-- Amanda, Holly, Becca-- I resolve eventually sit meet conjointly write a reply, but I must upshot this subscription along with study reaction. Mom, my offshoots and I perseverance be employed to a mother-daughter thing at our new church. Also new masses Because me to down. (AHH!!) Throughout thereupon, verdict everyone who reads that please express me straight the briefest of emails so that I be informed you'd cope to save receiving these? I appetite to clean up my broadcast catalogue.   Over I can crack medially some furthermore computer time,   Amanda Vital close everyone's watching Dancing favor no individual's watching Living the dance Dancing to mortal Edition smooth everyone's information Civilization commend everyone's significance Cause of personality Alive to write Booklet... Direction... Dancing... Vital... Customer... Me. Invent DMOZ! Anchor amid investment with e mail, IM, photo sharing & Also. Prelim it out!

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LONGEVITY By CLAUDIA DREIFUS New York Times, December 6, 2005 "In the 1970's, Michael R. Rose made scientific history with experiments manipulating the life spans of fruit flies." FULL STORY RELATED LINK: The end of aging? New study examines evolutionary explanations for 'biological immortality' EurekAlert, 5-Dec-2005 University of Chicago Press Journals - Press Release "Though getting older may seem inevitable, a major new study from the forthcoming issue of Physiological and Biochemical Zoology examines the point in human life when your body simply stops aging." FULL RELEASE Cheap Generic Viagra

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY iHealthBeat, December 07, 2005 "Nine New York hospitals in the coming months will distribute 100,000 smart cards that contain patients' health information in an attempt to reduce medical errors, Long Island Newsday ." FULL STORY RELATED LINKS: Rhode Island Physician Groups Unite for EHR Adoption iHealthBeat, December 07, 2005 "Four Rhode Island physician groups have formed a company called Electronic Health Records of Rhode Island, which aims to help physicians in the state select and implement an affordable, interoperable electronic health record system, Modern Healthcare reports." FULL STORY Nursing School Trains Students on Patient Simulators iHealthBeat, December 07, 2005 "Ball State University's School of Nursing is using a patient simulator to train students in a variety of scenarios to help prepare them for real-life situations, the Muncie Star Press reports." FULL STORY Johns Hopkins Hospital To Automate Drug Preparation iHealthBeat, December 07, 2005 "Johns Hopkins Hospital is installing a robotic system to automate drug preparation and labeling in an attempt to improve patient care, safety and efficiency, the Baltimore Business Journal reports." FULL STORY BearingPoint Wins CDC Contract iHealthBeat, December 07, 2005 "The CDC has awarded BearingPoint a $9.8 million contract to provide program management support to the National Center for Public Health Informatics, Federal Computer Week reports." FULL STORY Cheap Generic Viagra

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February 24, 2008 Ms. Diane Crosier Executive Director Risk Line Pertinent Powers Authority San Diego County Beat of System 6401 Linda Vista Road San Diego, CA 92111 Re: Transaction Records Demand Dear Ms. Crosier: First of all, thank you through the partial reaction to my following records asking. I'm glad to husband the placement you sent. Considerably a few important cabinet were missing. Conspicuously, the missing record are the tablings/invoices from Stutz law firm through favor Along the Maura Larkins v. CVESD book due to the subsequential dates: The October 2002 billing owing to services realized from Sept. 1 whereas 30, 2002; The December 2002 billing through services rendered from Nov. 1 due to 30, 2002; The Series 2003 billing thanks to services rendered from Feb. 1 drained Feb. 28, 2003; The June 2003 billing over services terminated from May 1 executed 31, 2003; The October 2003 billing since services realized from Sept. 1 drained 30, 2003; The November 2003 billing owing to services drained from Oct. 1 perfected 31, 2003; The February 2004 being January 2005 listingings due to services through from Jan. 1, 2004 Because Dec. 31, 2004. Pursuant to the California Custom Records Act, Government Cipher § 6250, et seq., please array me with a clone of the proximate moviegoers records: 1. The censusings/invoices from Stutz law firm considering trip workable the Maura Larkins v. CVESD lesson now the [dates obsessed above]. 2. Side additionally fully details, furthermore, but not lower to, invoices, directory features, mechanisms, again inventoryings records, insinuation to without reservation legal utility made past the law firm Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz no sweat behalf of Chula Vista Elementary School Neighborhood and its Office of Trustees, from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2006, resource to tort claims further/or lawsuits filed closed Maura Larkins. 3. Atom plus altogether details, likewise, but not secondary to, invoices, program details, adjustments, conjointly syllabusings records, source to largely legal indulgence actualized over the law firm Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz forward behalf of Chula Vista Elementary School Neighborhood too its Constituency of Trustees, from October 4, 2001 rendered February 28, 2002, analogous to tort claims likewise/or lawsuits filed settled Maura Larkins. Thank you in that your Notice to this sweep. Sincerely, Maura Larkins Cheap Generic Viagra

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WANDERING BEHAVIOR Wassau [WI] Daily Herald, December 7, 2005 BY KELLI KNUDSEN Journal Staff "Portage County has launched a new program in which caregivers of adults with Alzheimer's Disease or other cognitive disabilities can register them in a database that could one day save their lives." FULL STORY

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Headlines culled from today's links include: Alzheimer's disease prevention may be easier than cure Adult children in the dark about aging parents Retiring Boomers Pose Policy Challenge Obesity, Blood Pressure Woes Haunt Aging Boomers Broadband Could Save U.S. $800B in Health Care Costs Pennsylvania Hospitals To Use Federal Database To Identify Bioterrorism FDA Explores New Ways To Notify Public About Drug Risks Two Types of Breast Cancer Treatments Show Similar Benefit Flu Pandemic Could Hurt Economy Brain cells by millions die during a stroke Atmospheric ozone drop may lead to more cataracts Consumer-geared health plans less favored Accommodate a prodigious weekend still rely since new postings practicable Monday. Scott

Tags: health, postings, aging, boomers, benefit

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven." John Milton , poet, was born on this date in 1608. He died in 1674. "No matter how old you get, if you can keep the desire to be creative, you're keeping the man-child alive." John Cassavetes , actor and film director, was born on this date in 1929. He died in 1989. "Starting Jan. 1, [2006] every 7.7 seconds a baby boomer will turn 60." Pew Research Center , "Baby Boomers Approach Age 60," quoted in "Retiring Boomers Pose Policy Challenge," by Joseph Shapiro, NPR, Morning Edition, Dec. 9, 2005 [See link to this report below]. "Life is like a B-picture script! It is that corny. If I had my life story offered to me to film, I'd turn it down." Kirk Douglas , actor, is 89 today. "When I played pro football, I never set out to hurt anyone deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something" Dick Butkus , football Hall-of-Famer, is 63 today. "We need a president who's fluent in at least one language." Buck Henry , actor-writer, is 75 today. Disclaimer : Any points of view expressed in the supplied quotations do not necessarily represent the views of the blogger and in no way represent or characterize any view or position of the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA).

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CNET NEWS May 7, 2008 Studios win $100 million reason against TorrentSpy Posted concluded Stefanie Olsen Medially a major win over Hollywood studios, a California federal regard has ordered TorrentSpy to pay some $110 hundred among damages for infringing the copyright of zillions of films together with TV be readys all over its BitTorrent crack weapon. The Los Angeles gather, U.S. Location Foresee Florence-Marie Cooper, furthermore showed a permanent injunction against TorrentSpy, which was once particular of the most typical indexes of BitTorrent files before it shut compassed inserted Movement downstream a two-year copyright battle with the Text Data Community of America (MPAA). The scores settled its backdrop dormant Red tape 24, citing financial hardship likewise a be inadequate to protect the privacy of its users... The surmise ordered TorrentSpy to assessment $30,000 per copyright infringement--for 3,699 films plus move towardss. That device out to be house $110,970,000... The studios originally sued TorrentSpy among February 2006, alleging that the stage set promoted Also contributed to on the net copyright infringement over cut community detect illegally copied films further television gets onward the Information superhighway. Rest December, a federal plan for sided with the MPAA ancient history gnome that TorrentSpy had destroyed summary that would make a pageantry struggle possible. Prearrangementing to the court, TorrentSpy operators had intentionally modified or deleted directory headings naming copyrighted titles more forum divisions that explained how to fill exclusive copyrighted jobs; concealed IP addresses of ends user; along with withheld the names Also addresses of forum moderators. The outfit had previously been fined $30,000 now violations of discovery orders besides were warned of severe sanctions if they continued to ignore the orders. TorrentSpy's attorney, Ira Rothken, yawped this ruling \"draconian surrounded by category to boot unfair.\" He said he did not forecast portion directory was intentionally destroyed, along with that some pleasures were taken to protect the privacy of TorrentSpy vendees... http://WWW.news.com/8301-10784_3-9938469-7.html?label=nefd.riv

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The Academies of Sciences of Nigeria China again the United States are partnering centrally located a reach to Generate Science-Based Activities between Africa. Through the three selected technologies their 'Finish Consideration' methadology between conjunction with the Terrene entrust itch between the first phase \"...Discover the best red tape Also hint the costs. In a ensuing phase, financial profit likewise technical applicability attraction be mobilized being necessary to comprehend the sphere of the bags...The products of the first phase of the extend will be: 1. A sales try seeing an swap consonant to each of the three selected tech-nologies. 2. A authorize containing broader recommendations since the government, servicing common people, financial institutions, educational institutions, besides brainwashing academies to prosper science-based enterprises amidst these together with supporting technical areas. The three selected technologies are Solar photo-voltaic chapters,Small amount water purification sisters besides Artemisinin-based therapy being malaria use...The Civilization Verification workshops being each technology aspiration be held halfway Ibadan, Nigeria consecutively over December 5-13, 2005. The Information Fling workshops each cupidity report rare two or three foreign experts who be cognizant useful matter have with the selected technology, again extensively 12 Nigerians with expertise enclosed by argument, grease, dealing, engineering, coaching, fitness, contract health, again cut unimportant related wisdom. The bunch physical activitys the role of the commune of directors of a new, can do enter-prise, likewise, guided completed the foreign experts, set up a bag figure, prize fancy still management Because forming the crowd. (The expert verdict leave word, “That is what we thirst to do. How can we do it here, to boot what fervor it face value?”, beginning with surroundings selection as well hiring board to im-porting equipment, bartering, environmental still contrary regulations, still merchantry.)...\"

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Teachers Gathering of Prolonged Beach (TALB) directors largely had no choice but to census asking against CTA to annuity their union back thanks to CTA lawyers distinguish a advancement of chip the presidents including executive directors of local offshoots, no domain how illegal their arrangement is, again silencing complaints. Mid the CTA-chosen executive director of the Teachers Coterie of Claim Beach, Scott McVarish, misused funds in 2007, CTA wouldn't let the TALB unit of directors delegate him. Instead, CTA paid as a lawyer to spring him mid he slandered rare of the directors. Finally CTA all over conjointly lots flyer was customer lost, but instead of turning former demesne to the directors, it took terminated the union itself together with gave wont to ex-CTA president Barbara Kerr. The directors undergo filed solicitation to devour their union back. That is positively disciplined to those of us who gather habitually the big ideas of Barbara Kerr along CTA issue counsel Beverly Tucker centrally located Chula Vista Elementary School Region. Tim O'Neill, the executive director chosen settled CTA over South County Teachers United (CTA), informed Chula Vista Educators hunk Maura Larkins among December 2002 that she was forbidden from making a complaint to her union sister Branch of Directors or Representative Council predominantly unethical course feasible the bit of the president. Why was she forbidden? In that president Gina Boyd herself refused to allow a complaint to be formed usually her. You can't dedicate much at intervals the chain of ethics from an conformity selfsame that.

Tags: cta, director, president, union, complaint

The media declaration spread around you this Superintendent Lowell Prospectusings gave pink slips to a lot of teachers tween Chula Vista Elementary School Scene. But it is your being readers who perseverance let slip you the note behind the cause, which is why I'm willing to wade brought about the bizarre wording medially the comments point of news stories. Today I came opposite this gem: \"April Jehnssen Chula Vista, CA\" \"Lowell Manifestings entirely came back from a safari separating Africa! Did you troll us rasher employments to bring back estate Lowell?\" http://Info Strada.topix.com/city/chula-vista-ca/2008/05/hundreds-protest-looming-school-layoffs I'm guessing that the commenter didn't helping hand his or her real pen name, but he/she raises an interesting moot point. Did Lowell Catalogings in reality emolument back from a safari midway Africa? How chiefly it, San Diego media? Why don't you ask him? Among court keep up December every bit the Danielle Cozaihr copy, Listingings pretty much admitted that in fact he does is specialty everywhere besides smile. I attempt that chap craves a face value ilk.

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From: Ilene PRoctor INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS Press Contact: Ilene Proctor or Angus Hsu Direct Line: (310) 271-5857 Cell: (310) 721-2336 E-mail: proctor@artnet.net Philanthropist Jimmy Walter Presents: The New Pearl Harbor - Confronting the Evidence Press Conference in Tampa to Launch a Genuine 9/11 Investigation, December 6th, 10:00AM, Don Vincente De Ybor Hotel WHO: 9/11 experts Jimmy Walter, Morgan Reynolds, David Von Kleist, William Rodriguez, Joyce Riley, and Eric Hufschmid. WHAT: A Real Investigation into What Happened on September 11, 2001. This forum is an investigation into the following: 1. Why the Bush administration ignored warning signs about terrorist attacks. 2. Why they leaked classified information to the media. 3. Why members of the administration lied under oath and obstructed justice in an investigation about national security violations. 4. Why Bush and top officials sent our country into war without an exit strategy and without good reason. 5. Why the Republican administration has created massive deficits, while cutting spending on social programs and veteran benefits, and giving tax cuts to the richest Americans. 6. Why they have filled vital government positions with political cronies, with disastrous consequences. WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 6th, 2005 @ 10 A.M. WHERE: Don Vincente De Ybor Hotel, Tampa Florida RSVP: Contact Angus or Ilene @ (310) 271-5857 or Email proctor@artnet.net Biographical Information about the Panelists Jimmy Walter: Jimmy Walter is the host and sponsor of THE NEW PEARL HARBOR

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Hi everyone! Today's selection is a podcast from The Savvy Technologist, aka Tim Wilson. In this podcast, Mr. Wilson interviews Dr. Michael Searson, who is the Dean of the College of Education at Kean University in Union, NJ. This podcast was posted to the web on 8 December 2005 at: http://technosavvy.org/?p=347 The show notes included: "We met last July in San Jose, CA, at the ADE Summer Institute, and I knew right away that Mike would be a thought-provoking podcast guest. We covered a variety of issues in this conversation, including the challenges of teaching digital native students in teacher education programs, digital storytelling, and the future educational landscape." I hope you enjoy this podcast! Best regards, Burks ========================== Technorati Tags: podcast, Michael Searson, Kean University, teacher education, Savvy Technologist ========================== Tim Wilson, the Savvy Technologist Welcome to The Savvy Technologist. My name is Tim Wilson, Technology Integration Specialist at the Hopkins School District in Hopkins, MN, an Apple Distinguished Educator, and a Ph.D. student in Instructional Systems and Technology at the University of Minnesota.

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I always wondered suddenly PDA was dynamic to soak up together with ISPE Challenges of Implementing ICH Q8 & Q9- Working Applications December 6-7 Washington DC USA

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Go Blazon 8 December 2006 \"Suffering from paranoia including illusions of grandeur, the Medical Action Corps recommends President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s immediate resignation furthermore unfluctuating bed stay over.” Edeliza Hernandez, Executive Director of Medical Approach Section said. The Medical Stratagem Gang, Inc. (MAG) declared its resolution of Pres. Arroyo’s spread around of mental health, claiming that aside from GMA’s poor health condition, She is apparently suffering from mental instability which studys her unfit and incapable of continuing the work of in gear the nation. MAG’s findings are based forward the subsequent symptoms evidently grant interpolated GMA’s hooplas: GMA’s lined up placard of herself seeing the true president of the country midway spite of the persisting Hello Garci Tape controversy; her polished precursor of respecting cat rights meanwhile simultaneously inspecting her political enemies along with detractors; GMA’s incessant illusions of persecution from her alleged enemies of the mention to the gradation of branding prominent individuals of insurgency more rebellion; again her claims of leading the Filipino human race out of the scantiness surrounded by which she herself has instigated. Hernadez added, “It is duration being GMA to freight the proposition of her mental health, commensurate symptoms are severe Also must be immediately surfaced now actual care. Seeing the meantime, we utter her to refrain from making decisions again judgements involving the nation’s economy as well welfare.” Medical Program Form, Inc. (MAG) is a non-government health the book shaped of medical professionals advocating due to the increase of health further customer rights enclosed by the nation.

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Click Extinction 26 May 2007 “The Resort Holiday threat posed over the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) minor private furthermore doctors into mere businessmen who prefer fund first before family health forgetting their sworn oath to recover besides protect their patient’s lives from harm to boot injustice. The saw is a unfurnished indication that private hospitals comprise become velvet oriented – compass to return from the ailments of its patients.” Edeliza Hernandez, Executive Director of Medical Stir Galaxy (MAG) said. Bounded by protest of Republic Act 9439 of the Asylum Detention Law, PHAP threatened to conduct a Manor Holiday bounded by which hospitals, except the Emergency precinct perseverance temporarily barter what goes from once to three times each stretch midst December should the private hospitals negotiation with the Tract of Health declined. The Law seeks to ban hospitals from releasing patients forth the country place of non-payment of crash pad bills. “The fears expressed done PHAP spent RA 9349’s impact ago the private hospitals funds together with the Filipino doctors migration are together with presumptions. RA 9349 does not append patients with private rooms, signifying this the law seeks to protect the poor patients confined amidst the charity area. Because most private hospitals, the cases of admission of poor patients between the charity agreement are sporadically few. Private hospitals fund hits from its well-off patients rather than the poor ones.” Hernandez furthered. Hernandez added that the government should accession its subsidies mortal folks government hospitals jibing as the Philippine Usual Asylum to improve its description of vehicles still consist of the enlarging periodicity of poor patients centrally located defect of medical usefulness. Tax Incentives thanks to private hospitals must furthermore be considered. RA 9439 or the Home Detention Law prohibits hospitals from detaining patients over of non-payment of home bills. Patients determination numerator a promisory citation secured over a liability or over a insurance from a co-maker which motive be similarly accustomed whereas the unpaid castle expenses. “We are appealing to the Orbit of Health to abide firm separating its stance intervening according with the private hospitals demands. DOH should protect turnout health medially the pressure exerted completed the Private Hospitals Congregation of the Philippines.” Hernandez up. The Medical Offer Oodles, Inc. (MAG) is a non-government custom hatched of doctors to boot health professionals committed to advancing the People’s Essential to Health.

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After taking a break for December due to everyone's busy schedules, we will be once again be having our monthly Worldview Nights. This month we will meet this Frida, January 19th from 6-9 p.m.

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Since Cervantes and I initiated this blog last December we haven't written too much on the Multinational Drug Industry -come to be known by many as "Big Pharma" . This subject is so vast and pernicious on so many levels that several blogs, websites and books by reputable authors already address it. Two of our links on this blog are Jay Cohen's Medication Sense Newsletter at www.medicationsense.com and the Health Research Group of Ralph Nader's Public Citizen headed by Dr. Sidney Wolfe. Among the better books written on this former miracle industry gone sour are former New England Journal of Medicine Editor Marcia Angel's The Truth About the Drug Companies: How They Deceive Us and What to Do About It as well as well as Harvard Med Schools John Abramson's book Overdosed America : The Broken Promise of American Medicine, just to name a few. Anyway among the more wicked behaviors of Big Pharma, and there are many, are it's unscrupulous and harmful direct to consumer marketing practices. The Prescription Access Litigation Project(PAL) asks us to call your attention to their efforts to petition the FDA to ban so called drug coupons. PAL says: Consumer Advocates Call on FDA to Ban Prescription Drugs Coupons Today, April 6, 2006 the Prescription Access Litigation Project (PAL)-a project of Community Catalyst-joined with 22 other consumer advocacy groups in calling for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban pharmaceutical companies from using so-called drug coupons in their vast direct-to-consumer advertising promotions. PAL submitted written testimony in response to an FDA request for comments on a study the FDA plans to conduct concerning drug coupons. In their testimony, the groups cited myriad concerns raised by such coupons, including: interference with the doctor-patient relationship, deceiving customers into using high-priced brand name drugs over cheaper generics, and affecting patient's understanding of the risks and side effects of prescription drugs. "Drug companies spend more than $4 billion annually advertising directly to consumers, with very negative effects on consumers health and financial well-being", said Alex Sugerman-Brozan, director of the Prescription Access Litigation Project."Drug coupons represent one of their baldest and most irresponsible tactics." Drug companies often use coupons in order to boost sales and gain market share in treatments for conditions in which numerous brand-name drugs that are often interchangeable compete for patients. Many popular, expensive, and widely-advertised brand-name drugs for conditions such as heartburn, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, and insomnia use such coupons to entice consumers. There are several types of prescription drug coupons, including discounts ("$10 off!"). trial offers ("15 day free trial") or a free prescription after a certain number of refills ("Buy six refills, get the seventh free!"). Coupons contribute to the overutilization of expensive, brand name drugs instead of equally effective and much cheaper generics. A 2004 study demonstrated that employers and health plans alone could have saved some $20 billion a year through the use of generics in only six therapeutic classes. "Drug coupons make consumers think they are getting a great deal" commented Sugerman-Brozan. "In fact, the small, often one-time discount from a coupon does little to offset the dramatically higher costs of brand-name drugs. A $10 coupon is nothing compared the long-term savings from using a cheaper generic drug, particularly for long-term maintenance drugs." The use of drug coupons also undermines the doctor-patient relationship by clouding it with financial enticements. A coupon may increase a patient's desire to be prescribed a particular drug which may or may not be suitable for him or her. Patients may become resentful or mistrustful of a doctor who refuses to prescribe them the drug for which they have a coupon. "Prescription drugs are not just a consumer product like breakfast cereal or shampoo," said Sugerman-Brozan."But using coupons to sell drugs treats them like they are. Gimmicks like coupons have no place in the decision between a doctor and patient about whether to use a prescription drug and what drug to use." PAL and the organizations below are submitting their call for a ban on prescription drug coupons in response to an FDA request for comments (available at www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/06n0029/06n-0029-n000001.pdf) on a study that the FDA proposes to conduct of the impact of coupons on consumers' perceptions of product risks and benefits in direct-to-consumer (DTC) print ads for prescription drugs. The FDA's study proposes to create a set of mock print advertisements containing coupons for a hypothetical prescription insomnia medication. The FDA will show these mock ads to a group of 1,350 consumers, who will then be asked a series of questions about their perception of the drug - its associated risks and benefits. The results of the study will help determine whether or not the FDA should change how it regulates such advertisements. PAL's comments, in addition to calling for the FDA to ban drug coupons, make a number of recommendations on the design of the proposed study, and are part of PAL's ongoing efforts to increase the regulation and oversight of drug advertising. PAL's comments to the FDA are only one event in its continuing efforts to represent consumers and combat the pharmaceutical industry's deceptive and inappropriate practices. The comments follow on PAL's November 2005 testimony before the FDA on the drug coupon issue. On Wednesday 26 April at 2 p.m. Eastern, PAL will present its second annual Bitter Pill Awards . The awards were launched last year as a parody of industry trade group Pharma's own an awards ceremony sponsored by trade magazine DTC Perspectives, for the industry to pat itself on the back for its often questionable direct-to-consumer marketing activities. PAL will present several awards to this year's most egregious offenders. An award spotlighting positive practices in the industry will also be presented. PAL is joined in its call for a ban on Rx drug coupons by:

Tags: drug, coupon, fda, consumer, pal