1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
"Prescription for trouble?: Local doctors on drug-makers' payroll" by Julia Hunter.
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
April 25, 2010.
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
After several drug companies made their first disclosures of the physicians on their payrolls — many required to do so following government settlements — 17 medical professional practicing locally showed up on the lists. Of the regional doctors, a physician speaking on Attention Deficit Disorder topped the list, bringing in $32,600 in a nine-month span. Doctors argued the practice was necessary, while opponents argued it created a conflict of interest.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
I accessed each database of the companies who'd disclosed their physician payments, and reports from the Pew Center.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Doctors who showed up on the lists and a bioethics research scholar.
6. Results (if any).
The community was more informed of their physicians' activities.
7. Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
I followed up with a story that illustrated some of these doctors had also previously been sanctioned by state disciplinary boards.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Make every effort to contact all doctors and show both sides of the argument.