Massachusetts Attorney General Concerned About Overpresription Of Antipsychotics In The Elderly
Posted by BSadmin - 30/03/10 at 09:03 amThe Massachusetts Attorney General, Martha Coakley, is reportedly taking steps to end overprescription of antipsychotics in the elderly. She has joined a federal lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, the maker of Risperdal, charging it with boosting sales of Risperdal to nursing homes through the use of kick-backs. She also promises to closely monitor antipsychotic use among the elderly. According to an analysis by the Boston Globe, 22% of nursing home patients in Massachusetts who receive antipsychotic drugs do not suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. As the Globe editorializes, the drugs are used “to help understaffed nursing homes control unruly patients with dementia.”
If you or someone you know has been harmed by neglect or abuse in a nursing home or care facility, you may contact Benjamin Gideon at bgideon@bermansimmons.com.
For more on the recent Boston Globe editorial, see: All eyes on antipsychotics