McKinsey under cosh for Opioid advice
Addiction Economy Thought for Today - on growing actions to promote corporate accountability for addiction.
Early days, but McKinsey might be sued for their advice to maximise sales of opioids when working for Purdue. I have yet to investigate cigarette lawsuits, but never quite understood why governments didn't sue cig companies out of existence, or citizens sue governments for lack of duty of care. If it were an airplane company they would have no business.
Had a fascinating chat on Tuesday with Nick Flynn, head of legal for the campaigning group Avaaz who has led a number of successful climate campaigns including the current one supporting the lawsuit from an individual suing BP for the death of this son.
Maybe these are the signs of some changes in corporate accountability? Shareholders next I hope.
Here re McKinsey:
"The inquiry is focused on whether McKinsey engaged in a criminal conspiracy when advising Purdue and other pharmaceutical manufacturers on marketing strategies to boost sales of prescription painkillers that led to widespread addiction and fatal overdoses, two of the people said.
The justice department is also investigating whether McKinsey conspired to commit healthcare fraud when its consulting work for companies selling opioids allegedly resulted in fraudulent claims being made to government programs such as Medicare.
"Prosecutors are also looking at whether McKinsey obstructed justice, an inquiry related to McKinsey’s disclosure that it had fired two partners who communicated about deleting documents related to their opioids work, the people said."
Thanks Fraser Battye for the heads up. One for you Michael Hobbs, know how you love the consulting firms, sure you are well on to this.
Another goodie from The Guardian
McKinsey reportedly under US criminal investigation over opioid industry work