The Story from APM

Pushing Drugs

Wednesday, March 12 2008

Pushing Drugs

Shahram Ahari

Shahram Ahari goes before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging today to say that the relationship between pharmaceutical companies and doctors compromises the health of patients.

Shahram knows what he's talking about: he was a drug rep with Eli Lilly, where he learned how to entice doctors with gifts, slanted statistics, and psychological profiles.

Shahram tells Dick Gordon how the techniques he honed actually worked. He even earned the nickname "safe cracker" for getting into the offices of doctors who avoided pharmaceutical reps. He also recounts the crisis of conscience that led to his quitting the industry.

• Learn more about how pharmaceutical companies influence prescribing
• Watch Shahram describe how he sold the drugs

Godi's Dream

Godi Godar is a mechanic. Nothing unusual there, except that Godi grew up in a remote part of Congo. Godi didn’t see his first car until he was in his 20s. No one had ever left his village before, but Godi had a dream that one day he would leave home and live a better life. He didn’t know how or why. And now, Godi’s dream has come true.

Music heard in this story: Likala Ya Moto by the L'African Fiesta National, Sam Mangwana & Tabu Ley Rochereau for the album 1968-1969-1970