 |
 |
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 09:56:26 -0700 From: "George J. Lussier" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Mr BLATZ/Pallidotomy Patient Information PART 2 Dear Mr. Lussier, Below are my responses to your queries. I am not entirely clear about your intentions, but if one of them is to discourage representatives from companies involved in PD-related products from openly providing information to this list, then you are doing a fine job. I think that everybody believes that companies that profit from medical products have a responsibility to the patient community that pays the bills. I think to single out one company, such as Axon, because an employee contributes to this list will do nothing except encourage me not to seek input from listmembers, nor to contribute openly. Mr.Blatz, Good morning! It is now 6:30am EST Acton Ma.time.First I want to thank you for your openness and for working on Saturday. I've been up since about 5am to continue my internet search for dollar information regarding Axon and the Society for Neuroscience. Of course there is no flashing arrow pointing to Axon Inst. "THE BOOKS----> How much do they contribute to the Society?" You said you were with a small company but I thought you might just belong to one of the exchanges. Nope. No SEC filings, Nope.As for the society.being a society of individuals, they don't list a thing about their major contributors.Couldn't come up with your name either not that I expected to but.... There are 21 "Sustaining Associate Members" of the Society for Neuroscience (with a total membership of approx. 25,000), listed on Page xix of their current Directory. These include many of the large pharmaceutical companies and a few device manufacturers such as Axon. A phone call to them would verify this. As for the dollar amount, I don't know. Axon is a private company, so there would be no SEC filings. So I must ask you if you [or someone else you may wish to pass me on to but I doubt you would feel the need to] could pry open the books and tell me about profit, $ to the Society and other contributions. You know, a Financial Report. By the way I don't have any problem with the "for profit" concept. However I do believe that Businesses need to have a social responsibility to turn back a portion of their profits to their "communities" And I, Mr. Blatz, am part of Axon's "community" Any thoughts on how I might get a look at the books of the society? A "No" answer would be acceptable I have no idea whether or not the Society allows people to look at their books. Since they are a non-profit organization, they probably have to. Axon Instruments is private, and therefore guards its financial status carefully, as do all private companies. And so, no, I will not give to you a figure of "profit-to-PD donations". Do you really think that any private company in the world would provide you with this information? Backing up a bit to another issue. I wasn't suggesting that you replace your lead graphic with a photograph but rather that you substitute photographs for nearly ALL of your illustrations. I have several great photos of my brain from a MRI viewpoint. If you can't find it on my website be sure to ask. I have some 8+ hours of video tapes The CD, from whence came the content on the Patient Information part of our web site was produced by a company that specializes in these sorts of products. They use drawings mostly because they can recycle the same ones in different CD's. When necessary, they make new ones specific for the particular surgical procedure. I would like to keep in touch with you so that we might arrange to use some of the material on your web site as it expands. One further clarification: I asked: Would you be interested in supporting a Children's March for PD on Washington? You answered: Maybe. Have you requested that we contribute? My now response: No. But I've been very impressed with the AIDS COMMUNITY ability to raise research and treatment dollars and a large measure of that is due,in my opinion,to the pictures and stories of children with AIDS and their families. But if the PD community were to think about sending their children to advocate for them would you consider us for a grant? I don't know. If you have a plan, I would certainly consider it. I assume that you would also submit such an application to each of the other companies, including all major pharmaceutical firms, that profit from the existence of Parkinson's Disease. Perhaps you have already done so? Could you have your folk send me a grant application package now? We don't have a "grant application package". If you have a specific request, please send it to me. George J. Lussier 593 Pine Cone Strand Acton,Ma. 01718 All for now but I'll await your response. And I do thank you for your openness George You are welcome. Andy