Doctor Accused of Faking Painkiller Studies
A U.S. doctor has agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud in connection with faked research on painkillers that was published in medical journals.
Anesthesiologist Dr. Scott Reuben, the former chief of acute pain at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a more lenient sentence that includes up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and forfeiture of assets worth at least $50,000 that he received for the research, according to court documents, the Associated Press reported.
It's alleged that Reuben applied for and received research grants from drug makers but never performed the studies. Instead, he made up some or all patient data contained in 21 studies published in anesthesiology journals between 1996 and 2008.
The ruse was discovered after the hospital launched a routine review last year. Baystate Medical Center has asked the journals to retract the studies, the AP reported.
Add a Comment2 Comments
I am a chronic pain sufferer and must use pain killers on a daily basis. Getting adequate medication for my pain is hard enough. There are times when I am requred to jump through hoops to have my medication.
This article makes me very angry. I think the doctor deserved greater sanctions against him. It was greed and not a sincere desire to help those in pain that drove his actions. Whatever happened to "Do no Harm."?
Reta
January 16, 2010 - 9:55amThis Comment
Thank you for your response, Reruho. In my honest opinion, it may have been greed and notoriety. When you treat patients as if they are expendable, you should no longer fall under the oath. He no longer practices medicine, thank goodness.
January 16, 2010 - 10:32am