Could your decision-support software be hacked by a malign influence, such as a drug company wanting to subtly boost scripts for its products?

When it comes to the activities of notorious oxycodone maker Purdue Pharma, it seems the answer is yes.

Last month, a US medical software company admitted to taking $1.5 million in kickbacks to create computer alerts designed to push doctors to prescribe extended-release (ER) opioids.

For three years, Practice Fusion’s software suggested doctors consider follow-up plans for their patients who had experienced at least two episodes of acute pain in four months.