The Vivus Company, maker of Qsymia, offered me a plane ticket, hotel room and $2500 cash to attend their "Speaker Training Program" in Dallas. I won't go. It is a bribe to get me and other doctors to prescribe Qsymia. I can't be bought.

Years ago I attended the kick-off of Meridia in Phoenix to take advantage of the free ticket to Phoenix where my daughter lives. I spent the time with her. I went to only one meeting, the evening Q&A session. We had to write our questions down on index cards. The cards were screened by company reps before being given to the expert panel. Having no patience with fools, I stood up and asked my questions aloud regarding some misleading data. You know that Meridia was withdrawn a few years later for its ineffectiveness and substantial risk.

​Initial report from Robert Skversky is that his appearance on the Dr. Oz show went very well. You will see the show on March 17. I feel relieved. But Robert said something in his analysis that set me thinking. He said, "My only disappointment (there's always something) was Oz's final comment of the show. He stated he thought meds for weight-loss on/off label were not to be used long term suggesting they were a crutch." But I may agree with Dr. Oz on this. Let's see...