Data Shows Local Doctors Paid in Millions by Big Pharma

A new database shows how much money pharmaceutical companies admit to spending on doctors. But its information about two Nashville doctors proves how hard it can be to parse out just what drug companies are paying for.

According to the investigative news site ProPublica, Psychologist Jon Draud collected more than a million dollars from at least seven drug companies over the past four years. He made more than any doctor in the nation when it comes to money reported as speaker’s fees.

But Dr. G. Patrick Maxwell isn’t included in that comparison. The database shows the plastic surgeon, who co-chairs a speakers bureau for Allergan, made roughly $7 million from the company in just two year’s time. But Allergen only reports the total sum paid to each doctor without specifying what exactly it covers. The company also lists Maxwell as a medical consultant. And because he reportedly holds 11 patents, the figure could include royalties.

Currently, only the companies that have settled lawsuits with the government have to report that kind of information. But a new federal rule set to go into effect next year requires detailed disclosure every time a pharmaceutical firm spends more than $10 on a physician.