Grassley Probes WebMD ties to Eli Lilly

So he wants WebMD, which lots of folks visit for medical info, to disclose its ties to the industry, in general, because the Lilly sponsorship raises questions about WebMD's "independence," according to this Feb. 18 letter to WebMD exec Wayne Gattinella. The ad encourages people to visit WebMD's site to take a depression-screening test (see here).

Accordingly, I request that you respond to the following questions and requests

for documents. Please respond by first repeating the enumerated request followed by the

appropriate answer.

1) Please provide copies of all communications regarding the creation of the

WebMD depression screening test;

2) Please provide copies of all contracts regarding the creation of the WebMD

depression screening test; and

3) Please provide any communications between WebMD and Eli Lilly and/or other

pharmaceutical companies regarding the creation of the WebMD depression

screening test.

4) Please explain your policies on disclosure of outside income by your top

executives, board of directors and physicians.

5) Please provide the disclosures of outside income filed with your organization by

your top executives, board of directors and physicians. This request covers the

period of January 2008 to the present.