April 27, 2012 at 7:54am
Something that is not discussed very often (or ever) is the fact that clinical trials for pharmaceuticals can be a very profitable business for a university, MS center, clinic and lead investigator. We know that drug companies pay the researchers, and pay for the use of facilities---and this has been a very lucrative business model for many. But something that has been kept quiet is the fact that physicians are paid "finders' fees" for enrolling patients in clinical trials. Because they need your body to test the drugs---signing you up is rewarded.
The published paper that first brought this practice to my attention was written by Maran Wolston, a woman with MS, who found out about her doctor's commercial interests in the drugs and trials he was recommending to her-- I suggest all pwMS and those that love them read her paper-
People are clamoring to be tested and treated for CCSVI. We've seen CCSVI clinical trials fill up within days, patients are turned away. Could the real push back from neurology regarding CCSVI treatment clinical trials be that neurologists do not want to lose potential patients for their own pharmaceutical clinical trials?
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If your doctor suggests you're the perfect candidate for some clinical trial, you might ask how much he's getting paid to recruit you.
Finders fees from $2,000 to $5,000 are common, say University of Toronto researchers Trudo Lemmens and Paul Miller. The fees are being paid to physicians, nurses and other health care professionals.
