German doctors face investigation in drugs scandal

doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7339.693

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Annette Tuffs

Heidelberg

Some 3500 doctors in several German towns are currently being investigated for alleged undue financial advantages and corruption after aggressive marketing by a drugs company.

The district attorney's office in Munich, which is carrying out the investigation, said that suspicions were raised over excessive marketing activities by SmithKline Beecham, the company which merged in 2000 with GlaxoWellcome to form GlaxoSmithKline. From 1997 to 1999 SmithKline Beecham invited hospital doctors and their spouses to conferences in Germany and abroad.

An additional 5800 payments of up to …