HEALTH NEWS

The Tide Is Turning: Big Pharma Billionaire Arrested, Charged With Conspiracy And Bribery Of Doctors

by Kat Gal
Published on January 20, 2019

The moment you’ve been all waiting for has finally arrived. The founder and owner of a Big Pharma was arrested. We never thought this day would come.

CEO Of Insys Was Arrested For Bribery And Fraud

According to the Daily Caller News Foundation, “Federal authorities arrested the billionaire founder and owner of Insys Therapeutics [on a Thursday in 2017] on charges of bribing doctors and pain clinics into prescribing the company’s fentanyl product to their patients.” (1)

Addictive drugs, such as opioids, are very dangerous. They claim over 64,000 human lives a year. That’s in the US alone, however, numbers are similarly high in other places. (2)

John Kapoor, 74, and seven other current and former executives at Insys Therapeutics were charged by The Department of Justice (DOJ) for bribery and fraud, and the illegal distribution of a fentanyl spray created by the company.

Fentanyl is over 50 times stronger than morphine. One must be very careful when using it, as overdosing can lead to death. It is only recommended to a select few. The spray was only intended to be used as a pain killer for serious cases of cancer, however, it was distributed to patients who didn’t need it, even those without cancer.

Since the charges, the stock prices of Insys have fallen over 20 percent. As a result, Kapoor also stepped down as CEO in January. (3)

The Opioid Crisis Is A Huge Focus For Our Government

Interestingly, the arrests happened only a few hours after President Trump declared the opioid epidemic in the United States. Opioid overdoses accounted for 64,070 deaths in 2016 alone. That is more American lives than the Vietnam War took.

Since then, doctors and opioid manufacturers have been held more accountable for over-prescribing opioids. More major lawsuits are to be expected. Trump seems serious about the issue, similarly to the “Just Say No” Initiative by Nancy Reagan.

According to the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, millions are addicted to opioids in the US and more and more die as a result. They stated that some medical professionals take advantage of people’s addictions instead of trying to help them. They claim to hold doctors and companies accountable and stop street dealers and illegal distribution. They stated that President Trump and his administration is fully committed to defeating this issue. (4)

There Are Other Issues Besides Opioids

While opioids are the main focus of the administration, they may be ignoring some other serious issues related to pharmaceuticals.

Many are worried about vaccines and believe that there is an autism cover-up going on. Others argue that vaccines are necessary at some level. Examining this issue and making safe guidelines for vaccinations could be in the best interest of all.

Others are worried that doctors are over-prescribing medications, that over-the-counter drugs are endlessly available, and that most doctors are not knowledgeable enough about the power of nutrition and lifestyle practices to truly advise their patients. Many people are hoping for more holistic, integrative, and patient-centered care instead of being pushed on medication after a five-minute visit.

Conclusion

While arresting a Big Pharma CEO for opium fraud and taking lives as a result is a huge step, it is crucial to look at other aspects of our healthcare system. It is also important to take our own health into our own hands, eat a healthy, organic, nutrient-dense diet filled with plants, exercise regularly, sleep plenty, reduce stress, and take care of our mental health as well.

What do you think about the opioid crisis and our healthcare system? What changes would you recommend? What do you do to protect your health and well-being? Share your thoughts with us, we would love to hear them.

Sources:

my free thinkings (blogs of Abdur Rouf)

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