Even though Jarvik holds a medical degree, he is not a
cardiologist and is not licensed to practice medicine. And, for that matter, what qualifies him to pose as a rowing enthusiast? The ads have depicted him--among other outdoorsy pursuits--rowing a
one-man racing shell swiftly across a mountain lake. As it turns out, Dr. Jarvik, 61, does not actually practice the sport. The ad agency hired a stunt double.
The House Committee on
Energy and Commerce is looking into when and why Jarvik began taking Lipitor and whether the ads give the public a false impression, according to John D. Dingell, the Michigan Democrat who is the
committee's chairman. "It seems that Pfizer's No. 1 priority is to sell lots of Lipitor," Dingell says.
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