Regarding “How this Delaware woman made her fortune off opioids,” DelawareOnline.com, Jan. 31:
I am saddened by the fact that DelawareOnline.com and The News Journal have chosen to lower itself to tabloid journalism in an attempt to sell newspapers and advertising space.
The recent article citing Carol Ammon as a villain to society based on her career at Endo and the wealth it produced could not be further from the truth. Prior to writing a headline article of this magnitude, it is the obligation and duty of a journalist as well as an editor to report the truth and provide fact, not fiction. Sadly, DelawareOnline.com chose to sensationalize mistruths and exploit sound bites in an attempt to provide a gripping experience that garners anger and sympathy.
Subscriber exclsusive:How this Delaware woman made her fortune off opioids
First and foremost, can we remember that Ammon stepped away as president and CEO of Endo in 2007, well before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the opioid crisis an epidemic in 2011? Secondly, can we remember that at the time she stepped down from this position, Endo was a leader in non-narcotic pain management with products like Lidoderm? And, when Ammon left, Percocet had long been replaced as a generic product.
Lastly, to suggest that Ammon’s philanthropy is provided to somehow cover up the way in which she created this wealth is just plain wrong. Ammon earned her wealth in keeping with the American dream: She worked long hours, had sleepless nights and was taken away from family and friends on a regular basis. I can tell you this because she has been a close, personal friend of mine for more than 20 years.
In closing, I feel it is important to set the record straight. Sadly, this article easily brings understanding to why the American public has little to no confidence in our media today.
— Dr. Gregory DeMeo is a physician who is managing director of Lifeline Medical Associates in Newark and is affiliated with ChristianaCare.
