What are your thoughts on GSK Fraud Settlement?

This is a drop in the bucket of their potential liability for the drug "Flomax", which is the most prescribed prostate medication in the world and is now known to trigger vigorous prostate cancer. For two decades prostate cancer has been rapidly increasing and becoming more aggressive. Duh, do you suppose?

However, this is an absurd way for such liabilities to be settled. I haven't seen the details, but most such negotiated "settlements" with the Justice Department prevent further suits from damaged or injured parties. So, the Feds keep the money and those harmed and damaged are left without recourse. That is a good way for a corporation to cap it's liabilities - make fifty $Billion selling adulterated chickens or drugs and negotiate a token settlement with the Justice Department. Then, change the product a little, give it a new new name, and back to the markets.

Thanks for your reply.
I agree, the fine is just a drop in the bucket.
Would having the CEO's face prison time for such abuses along with
the huge fine be more effective a deterrent in your opinion?

In my opinion, YES, every person working in any capacity for a pharmaceutical manufacturer having knowledge of reasonably anticipated bodily harm from the products should be tried under all applicable laws. Many of the most popular drugs are known to cause serious and often fatal side effects, often far outweighing the possible benefits from the pills.

A personal testmony regarding similar matters: Long time ago I was a "detail man", representing one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers. A misunderstanding
between a Doctor and myself resulted in my becoming the "Number one" sales rep in
the U.S. for a particular drug. The company called me to New York right away and asked me to become the "National Product Manager" for that product, focusing on the particular application of the misunderstanding. When I told the assembled research Doctors and managers that the product really wasn't suitable for that use, the silence in the room was astouding and the body language told me I should move on to other employment right away. They continued for years to try to get the product accepted for the application, without any measurable success.