Reply #1: drug companies do it every day [View All]

"new drugs" many of which have a generic counterpart or a similar drug on which the patent has run out that might be safer, definitely cheaper and oftentimes much more effective.

The medical person is prodded to prescribe the "new drug" by drugco frontmen. This is a criminal act, and the administration looks the other way. They are complicit in the crime against people who are having a hard time affording medications, or are dealing with the wicked side effects of drugs they should not be taking because an older more proven, safer one would work as well if not better for less money.

http://www.citizen.org/congress/reform/drug_industry/index.cfm
Drug Industry:
Prices, Profits and R&D,
Campaign Contributions & Lobbying

(6/23/2004) The Medicare Drug War: Drug Companies and HMOs Led an Army of Nearly 1,000 Lobbyists to Promote Misguided Legislation and Increase Profits

www.drugawareness.org