Zantac Lawsuit


Researching drug company and regulatory malfeasance for over 16 years
Humanist, humorist

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Update: Dr. Vernon L. Kliewer and the 3 year-old

3 year-old Destiny Hager was prescribed Seroquel and Geodon after being diagnosed with bi-polar by pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Vernon L. Kliewer of Kansas.



Following on from my previous post about 3 year-old Destiny Hager. [Pictured]

Destiny was prescribed Seroquel and Geodon after being diagnosed with bi-polar by pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Vernon L. Kliewer of Kansas.

Destiny died of fecal impaction and had “antipsychotic drugs present in concentrations considered therapeutic in adults.” The dosage of Seroquel was ramped up to 600 milligrams per day by Kliewer.

Kliewer subsequently entered into an agreement with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts that would restrict his license to practice medicine and surgery by placing that licence on probation.

Kliewer voluntary excluded treating children under the age of six and was ordered to pay costs to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts of $13,079, about £8,000. [Back Story]

Both Seroquel and Geodon were prescribed off-label in this particular case.

Seroquel is sold and marked in the United States by AstraZeneca.

Geodon is sold and marked in the United States by Pfizer.

Dine and Dash

The drug industry last updated its marketing code in 2002, when it banned “dine and dash” events in which drug makers provided free dinners to doctors who agreed to listen to brief sales pitches.

On the scale of things Kliewer hasn't really received much from the drug industry but he certainly has been entertained by both makers of Seroquel and Geodon.

Statistics, from 2010 to 2012 show that Kliewer was taken for three meals by Geodon reps [Pfizer] and was given a gift or item to the value of $99.

The same statistics show that Kliewer was taken for two meals by Seroquel reps [AstraZeneca].

Here's the list [taken from ProPublica Dollars For Docs Database]

Pfizer - 2010 - Meals - $6
Pfizer - 2010 - Items, Gifts - $99
Pfizer - 2011 - Meals - $85
Pfizer - 2012 - Meals - $99
AstraZeneca - 2011 - Meals - $36
AstraZeneca - 2012 - Meals - $276

Unfortunately the database only starts from 2010. 3 year-old Desting Hager died in 2006. Is it safe to assume that Kliewer had already been targeted by both Pfizer and AstraZeneca reps?

The money isn't really an issue here, it's more of the motive.

Why would Pfizer and AstraZeneca reps entertain a pediatric psychiatrist?


Answers on a postcard please to:

Off-Label Promotional Tactics
A.N.Y Pharmaceutical Company
PO Box 666


Bob Fiddaman





No comments:


Please contact me if you would like a guest post considered for publication on my blog.