The pharmaceutical industry in California is a for-profit industry, so some companies and employees engage in fraud to boost their profits and promote sales of their medication. Even at the pharmacy level, pharmacists can switch or alter medications to defraud their customers.
What are some common types of pharmaceutical fraud?
Pharmaceutical companies make money every time a doctor prescribes their drugs. To encourage sales of their medications, some companies engage in pharmaceutical fraud by giving doctors special gifts and privileges in exchange for prescribing their medication more often. This can have a detrimental effect on the health of the patients.
Some companies engage in fraud to get their drug on the market. When they report their drug to the Food and Drug Administration, they might lie about the drug’s ingredients, abilities and side effects to get quicker approval. Others engage in fraud by promoting the drug for uses that the FDA hasn’t approved, posing a potential risk to people who take the medication.
Even pharmacists can engage in fraud. One common form of fraud is swapping out one drug for another or giving a patient the wrong form of their medication. The pharmacist might assume that it won’t make a difference, but the doctor prescribed that specific drug for a reason. Pharmacists who wrongfully substitute medications might have to hire a criminal defense attorney to defend themselves against fraud charges.
Has someone charged you with pharmaceutical fraud?
If someone accuses you of pharmaceutical fraud, your career and reputation could be on the line. Whether you’re a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a drug manufacturer or anyone else involved in the pharmaceutical industry, you’ll want to hire an attorney to help you defend yourself against the charges. The outcome of the trial might help you save your reputation.
