Doctor Accuses Merck of Fraud in Drug Sales
By MELODY
PETERSEN (NYT) 393 words
Late Edition -
Final , Section C , Page 5 , Column 4
ABSTRACT
- Dr William St John
LaCorte contends Merck defrauded federal Medicare and Medicaid
programs as it marketed its heartburn drug Pepcid to hospitals and
nursing homes in 1990's; says in whistle-blower suit that when he
prescribed Zantac to his patients in hospitals and nursing homes, he
later found that they were given Pepcid without his permission;
contends his patients suffered because Pepcid can be more toxic than
Zantac if lower does is not used; also contends Merck gave hospitals
substantial discounts on Pepcid to prompt them to switch patients to
that drug; Merck spokesman Christopher Loder says suit lacks merit
(M) A Louisiana doctor is contending that Merck defrauded the
federal Medicare and Medicaid programs as it marketed its heartburn
drug, Pepcid, to hospitals and nursing homes in the 1990's,
according to court records that were recently unsealed.
Dr. William St. John LaCorte, who treats patients in New Orleans,
contends in a whistle-blower suit that when he prescribed Zantac,
another heartburn drug, for his patients in hospitals and nursing
homes, he later found that they were given Pepcid without his
permission. He says that his patients suffered because Pepcid can be
more toxic than Zantac if a lower dose is not used.
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