Published October 19, 2010

What’s news on a cloudy Tuesday morning in Boston:

Drug companies hire troubled doctors as “experts,” an investigation finds. “ProPublica has uncovered hundreds of doctors receiving company payments who had been accused of professional misconduct, were disciplined by state boards or lacked credentials as researchers or specialists.” (NPR-ProPublica)

Insurance company money flows to Massachusetts docs. “While some doctors who gave speeches once or twice during 2009 and 2010 earned $2,000 to $3,000, more than two dozen Massachusetts psychiatrists, endocrinologists, and other specialists who gave frequent talks brought in $40,000 to $100,000 and, in a few cases, more.” (Globe)

Witnesses dispute the police account of the fatal shooting of Danroy Henry. He was the 20-year-old college student from Easton killed in New York State on Sunday. (Globe)

The Russian spies arrested in Cambridge (might have) received top honors from President Dmitri A. Medvedev. “The president’s spokeswoman … would not say which awards were given out or whether all 10 of those arrested this summer were among the recipients.” (New York Times)

The first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School has died. “Dr. Mildred Jefferson, a prominent, outspoken opponent of abortion … died Friday at her home in Cambridge, Mass. She was 84.” (New York Times)

Boston University has a new provost. “Jean Morrison, executive vice provost for academic affairs and graduate programs at the University of Southern California, has been named University provost and chief academic officer.” (BU Today)