The following is a cross post from a list on clinical trials.  If anyone has
any comments which they wish to have posted on that list, you can contact
the list owner (Paul Bleicher) at xxxxxx@world.std.com

>On Wed, 12 Apr 1995 xxxxxx@aol.com wrote:

> In the game of for profit research, a method of increasing revenue is to bill
> the patients Insurance Companies,  for lab work, test, X-rays etc. or all
> tests that were in the Drug Study Budget to be paid from the budget. Then, if
> the insurance company does not pay, you can pay for the lab work from the
> budget. However, if the Insurance Company pays for the tests that the Study
> Budget should have paid for, then then money is made tax free since as far as
> the IRS is concerned, you can say the money went to pay for the laboratory
> expenses etc.
>
> Any Comments??
>
>Yes:  I believe that this is ethically wrong.  The drug company paying
>for the study budget is paying for these items.  At the least it violates
>the spirit of the agreement between you and your sponsor.
>
>Depending on the type of agreement with your sponsor, it may also
>constitute fraud.  If this is government money it also could be
>considered fraudulent.
>
>Anyone disagree?
>
>_______________________________________________________________________________
_
>Paul Bleicher                          Voice: 508 798-6900
>VP, Clinical Affairs                   Fax:   508 754-2579
>Alpha-Beta Technology, Inc.            Email: xxxxxx@world.std.com
>One Innovation Drive
>Worcester, MA 01605            "Better Living Through Biotechnology"
>______________________________________________________________________________