Rush Limbaugh, Victim, Perp or none of the above? (Part 1)Written by Bill Kammarada
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Mr. Henkel ‘s article further states: "Internet drug shopping is said to save consumers money. In some cases this is true. A survey in fall of 1999 by Consumer Reports showed that buyers could save as much as 29 percent (and as high as 50-80% offshore) by obtaining certain drugs online. But another study, conducted in 1999 by University of Pennsylvania and published in Annals of Internal Medicine, tracked Internet sales of Viagra and Propecia and found that two drugs were an average of 10 percent more expensive online than at local Philadelphia-area pharmacies. (I have a problem with that study. If it were so, why are so many people purchasing with Online Pharmacies? What 2 drugs did they track? Why only two? Try to find that Article; I can't. Link to Annals of Internal Medicine search page is at http://www.annals.org/search.dtl) In another part of that study, researchers Bernard Bloom, Ph.D., and Ronald Iannocone found that 37 of 46 sites they examined either required a prescription from a personal physician, or offered to prescribe a medication based solely on a questionnaire. But nine sites, all based outside United States, did not require a prescription. (Not suprising, as most countries don’t require a prescription in their country.Guess they failed to mention that.) The researchers also found that even when Web sites offered a questionnaire with promise that a physician would review form, nothing was generally known about doctor's qualifications, and it was easy for users to provide false information to obtain a prescription. Consumers seeking health products online can find dozens of sites that FDA officials say are legally questionable. A number of them specialize in providing drugs such as antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Viagra, baldness therapy Propecia (finasteride), or weight-loss treatment Xenical (orlistat). Others, based in foreign countries, promise to deliver prescription drugs at a much cheaper price than their domestic cost, but drugs may be different from those approved in United States or may be past their expiration dates. (Legally questionable is another way of saying nothing. Double talk. Either it’s legal or illegal. ) Still other sites make fraudulent health claims (Ouch, got to agree on this one.) or blatantly advertise that a customer can buy drugs with no prescription. Online drug sites can now be located in nearly any state or country having phone lines. (Prescriptions are not required in most counties. What’s so blatant about not requiring one!) Some feel new laws will be needed to improve this situation. Whether new legislation will improve oversight of online pharmacies remains to be seen. For moment, regulators have entered what FDA's Shuren calls "a whole new ball game" that cuts across limited jurisdictions of several federal and state agencies……." (Isn’t there enough regulation already?) Pill Box's president William A. Stallknecht, R.Ph said that," one out of three prescriptions written are prescribed by doctors who've never seen their patients." Spring reported him as saying that pharmaceutical drugs he sells online primarily Viagra, Propecia, Claritin, and Xenical are safe. These drugs only require a prescription because manufacturers are "milking their patents" before they expire and drugs become available over counter. (As far as prices for Viagra, and a few other high profit drugs, this is true. The manufacturers are artificially keeping their prices high, in league with FDA.) Tom Spring, wrote in PC World in June 2000 that it isn't illegal to purchase prescribed medication over Internet if you have a prescription from your doctor. The ethical and legal questions surround issue of whether a doctor can prescribe drugs over Internet without ever meeting patient. (Actually, this is factually correct, but highly misleading. What he failed to mention was that certain Orphan Drugs (for rare diseases not tested in US) and other FDA unapproved or drugs still in clinical trials in US, but approved elsewhere (drugs for AIDS, etc), as well as legitimate approved pharmaceuticals can be imported without prescription provided it is a three month supply solely for personal use. Read FDA Regulations and their contrary policy at http://rxasia.com/import.html ) This is not case for controlled or narcotic prescriptions by any means, nor does this author condone use of controlled or narcotic prescriptions. For a list of all controlled substances, see our friends at US Injustice Dept at http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/agency/csa.htm.) For our Canadian friends, see your list at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-38.8/36012.html#rid-36062 ) CNN reported in June that American Medical Association was going to be looking into Internet prescribing rules. According to Spring AMA says that online physicians who write prescriptions without patient contact are in direct violation of AMA policy. The organization wants states to penalize doctors for prescribing drugs sight unseen. (You know what happens when someone disagrees with AMA? I’ll be getting hate mail ) Spring also talked about pharmacies popping up overseas that allow anyone with a credit card to purchase drugs like tranquilizer XENIX, anabolic steroids, Rohypnol (date rape drug) (a sedative not available in U.S.), and narcotic Demerol.
Bill Kammarada started in the computer industry as an analyst in 1961. He is a Computer Consultant and Webmaster for www.RxAsia.com Following the loosening of FDA rules on Orphan Drugs and other drugs not supplied in the USA, he studied the subject extensively. He was asked to leave Hofstra University (NY) for not taking them seriously and went to Pace University (NY) where he majored in sarcasm and non-matriculation. You can reach Bill at laser_doctor@yahoo.com.
| | Ten Healthy Reasons to Procrastinate This Holiday SeasonWritten by Dale Reynolds
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You’ll be running to door, packages under your arms, to get a better place in line at UPS drop point. See how you’re wasting away? After running around, you’ll be exhausted and will fall asleep early (no nighttime munching) and sleep well through night. Proper rest is important to your health! And you’ll awaken refreshed and ready to tackle another tough day of shopping and wrapping! With all of holiday shopping, you’ll have less time to grocery shop. This can be a good thing if you go with a list, on a full stomach, and take in only aisles you really need. Stock up on healthy food to make less trips, and you won’t be tempted by holiday goodies as many times. Since you left everything until last minute that includes cleaning house for your holiday guests. The faster you move while cleaning, more calories you burn! Have a happy, safe and healthy holiday season! Try to remember that it only comes once a year and is meant to be enjoyed, so keep your sense of humor and don’t get stressed out! Do something nice for yourself while you’re at it-how about an hour massage to relieve stress and relax your aching muscles? You deserve it! Procrastinating is hard work!
Dale Reynolds is an author and weight loss counselor in upstate New York. She has published a book, "A Slim Book On Weighty Matters", and has a free newsletter available through her website www.slimdale.com.
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