Why are dope-addicted, disgraced doctors running our drug trials?

I've reported before on doctors who fall foul of medical regulators. It's been a sobering experience, partly because mistakes like those made at Pioneers don't necessarily derail a career. Far from it—some sanctioned doctors find lucrative work with the drug industry. In 2010, for instance, I discovered that Pfizer, a pharmaceuticals giant, had made some questionable decisions when hiring physicians to talk to doctors about the company's drugs. One recruit had been fined $30,000 for dangerous prescription of addictive narcotics, yet was hired to lecture others on how to use Pfizer's leading antipsychotic drug. (Pfizer says it now screens potential speakers for disciplinary actions.)