How the Sacklers shifted $10.8B of an opioid fortune built on OxyContin

Post by WJW » Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 1:09 PM UTC

casraso wrote: post #4

wombatmobile wrote: post #2

If we had a justice system, that $10.8 billion would be recoverable, and used to try to rehabilitate the victims. But we don't have a justice system. We have a legal system, and a financial system.

This is why I am puzzled when people say 'you should fight your battles in the courts, not through protests'. It has always been about who can afford better lawyers, who can win the war of attrition, and a whole lot of luck along the way. Quite a few articles have showed up on HN the past week that reinforce this.

Post by 082349872349872 » Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 1:11 PM UTC

zimpenfish wrote: post #5

casraso wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why I am puzzled when people say 'you should fight your battles in the courts, not through protests'. It has always been about who can afford better lawyers, who can win the war of attrition, and a whole lot of luck along the way. Quite a few articles have showed up on HN the past week that reinforce this.

I think, generally, the people saying that are the ones who have the advantage when it comes to court battles...

Post by thefounder » Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 1:13 PM UTC

songshu wrote: post #13

I never understand why doctors are not blamed for prescribing these. Are doctors not supposed to be responsible for prescriptions? If they are not, should we stop allowing them to prescribe? Why don’t doctors unions throw out members who would claim to have been hoodwinked by pharmaceutical companies?

Post by lordnacho » Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 1:13 PM UTC

save_ferris wrote: post #11

lordnacho wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't forget, there is also a reputation system. It should be made clear that whatever the justice system decides, much of their wealth has derived from an activity that was net negative for humanity. And yes, I have heard that PR companies exist to clean up reputations, but it should be possible to at least make it clear what happened. I think I read somewhere that a hedge fund had decided not to take an allocation…

I’m sorry but this is so naive. They were billionaires yesterday and they’re going to be billionaires tomorrow. Their reputation is going to be fine because we live in a society that absolutely worships money and those who have it. People with that kind of money can pay to scrub the internet.

Post by JMTQp8lwXL » Wed, Aug 26, 2020, 1:20 PM UTC

songshu wrote: post #13

I never understand why doctors are not blamed for prescribing these. Are doctors not supposed to be responsible for prescriptions? If they are not, should we stop allowing them to prescribe? Why don’t doctors unions throw out members who would claim to have been hoodwinked by pharmaceutical companies?