Charles Gibson, ABC News

On THE MONEY TRAIL tonight, we look at how and why doctors choose specific drugs for their patients. An overwhelming majority of doctors simply choose the drug they think will work best. But the US Attorney in Boston is investigating a case in which it is alleged one drug company helped doctors make huge profits if those doctors would prescribe the company’s drug. Here’s ABC’s chief investigative correspondent, Brian Ross.

BRIAN ROSS, ABC NEWS

(VO) This Lewiston, Maine, urologist is one of four doctors indicted in a sweeping federal investigation of how a major pharmaceutical company allegedly offered big money to get doctors to prescribe a cancer drug called Lupron.

(OC) Can we talk to you just for a second about…

DR. JOEL OLSTEIN

(PH) Well, I really don’t think so.

BRIAN ROSS

(VO) According to the indictment, Dr. Joel Olstein, who says he is cooperating with authorities, made tens of thousands of dollars by taking free samples from drug company representatives and then billing insurance companies and Medicare for the full price. And according to authorities, it was all part of a campaign by the makers of Lupron to get doctors to prescribe the effective but costly prostate cancer drug instead of its less expensive competitor.

DR. GERALD WEISBERG

It’s bothersome to the extent that therapeutic decisions could be influenced by personal financial gain.

BRIAN ROSS

(VO) The scheme was presented to thousands of doctors across the country, according to Dr. Gerald Weisberg. He’s the former head of clinical research for Lupron at the TAP Pharmaceutical Company in suburban Chicago, and has told federal authorities that the company concluded that many doctors cared as much about profit as they did about how good the drug was.

GERALD WEISBERG

It was a pitch made on financial gain for physicians.

BRIAN ROSS

And that was widespread?

GERALD WEISBERG

We are talking about schemes clearly implemented through the efforts of persons in the TAP home office and then given to the people out in the field.

BRIAN ROSS

(VO) Company officials say Dr. Weisberg is a disgruntled employee who was fired. But internal company documents obtained by ABC News reveal the kind of pitch the company made to doctors, including something called the Lupron Checkbook. It was designed to show doctors how they could make huge profits by purchasing Lupron at substantial discounts and billing health insurers for them at the full price, a secret arrangement the patients were never intended to know.

DR. ARNOLD RELMAN, Harvard Medical School

And what it says is, "Doctor, how much do I have to give you in order to persuade you that my drug or my treatment is better than the other fellow’s drug or – or better than no drug at all?"

BRIAN ROSS

The Lupron investigation is a case that has closely been watched and it may reveal a great deal about how big drug company tactics can drive up prices and influence medical judgments. Brian Ross, ABC News, New York.