Dr. Scott Reuben from the Springfield Baystate Medical Center is now on leave. In his research he stated “favorable results” from the pain killers that he tested. They included Bextra, Celebrex, Lyrica, and Vioxx. Dr. Reuben also stated that the antidepressant Effexor worked effectively as a painkiller.
In reviewing the research completed by Dr. Reuben you would assume that he had personal ties with some of the companies. Well, Dr. Reuben received five research grants from Pfizer the maker of Bextra, Celebrex and Lyrica between 2002- 2007. In addition, Dr. Reuben was a member of the Pfizer’s speaker bureau in which he gave talks to other colleagues about Pfizer’s drugs.
Dr. Reuben’s research may have had an everlasting effect on some patients that were treated by doctors that believed his research. According to the article, Dr. Benzon the chief of pain medicine at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial Hospital stated that “studies show that Celebrex and its relatives have been shown in some studies to interfere with bone healing — but not in Reuben’s research. Because of that, Benzon said he, and probably other doctors, too, began using those drugs more often in patients having bone-related operations including spinal surgery”. In addition, Dr. Benzon explained that the most alarming issue is that some of this research has been out there for over 12 years. No one knows to what extent Dr. Reuben’s research has affected patients.
When articles come out explaining the unethical behavior of those very people we trust our families lives with, you wonder “who can I really trust”. It is not known if Dr. Reuben fabricated his research for monetary gain. However, the next time you go to the doctors and they are pushing you to take a medication that does not seem right to you….get a second opinion. Anyone of us could have been a patient of Dr. Reuben’s.
1 comment:
Once again, another story about a doctor performing studies and prescribing medicine for their gain, whether for monetary or status reasons. Not all doctors practice the philosophy of promoting products for companies that promote them, but unfortunately, they get lumped into the same categories as those who do when a story like this comes to light.
Dr. Reuben has definitely broken the law, ethically and morally, by falsifying research documents for personal gain. For as many years as this has been going on, one has to ask, why it took so long to become aware that this was happening? My question is the same; how many more patients have been affected by Dr. Reuben's actions? Will we ever know? Will this be covered up by pharmaceutical companies and the hospital to protect their own interest?
Doesn't the public have the right to know this information? Isn't this covered under the public information act, or would it be covered under HIPAA, in which case, we would not have the right to know this privileged information?
Fortunately, I'm not a trusting person, by nature, so I ALWAYS research medicines I'm prescribed. But it could easily have affected someone I know. Dr. Reuben needs to face more consequences than just being "on leave." His actions may have reduced the quality of life for many or all of the patients involved. Will the patients be informed of his actions, and will they be able to bring suits against him? Personally, I would like to know what happens to Dr. Reuben, if anything.
Post a Comment