Healthcare provider profile · identity verified

Grant Arnold Craig, M.D.

Allopathic & Osteopathic Physicians|Family Medicine · SHERMAN, TX · NPI 1598809741

Profile state: payments and partd Open Payments: 2025 Medicare Part D: 2024 Last identity check: 2026-08-10 Page data build: 2026-08-12

Verified facts

What the public records show

CMS Open Payments records show Grant Arnold Craig, M.D. received $1,689.64 in general payments during 2025 across 111 reported records.

ABBVIE INC. accounted for 30.2% of that reported general-payment amount.

The Open Payments records used for this analysis explicitly named 33 associated products.

A separate comparison found the same explicitly named product in public Medicare Part D data: Eliquis, Linzess, Mounjaro, Ozempic.

ABBVIE INC. reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported LINZESS as an associated drug or biological on 87954 records involving 21815 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 39 claims for Linzess by this doctor in 2024.

ABBVIE INC. reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported SYNTHROID as an associated drug or biological on 10655 records involving 4881 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 78 claims for Synthroid by this doctor in 2024.

Astellas Pharma US Inc reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported Myrbetriq as an associated drug or biological on 16 records involving 16 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 16 claims for Myrbetriq by this doctor in 2024.

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported FARXIGA as an associated drug or biological on 106133 records involving 42906 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 46 claims for Farxiga by this doctor in 2024.

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported SYMBICORT as an associated drug or biological on 71 records involving 51 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 12 claims for Symbicort by this doctor in 2024.

Lilly USA, LLC reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported JARDIANCE as an associated drug or biological on 47708 records involving 23833 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 11 claims for Jardiance by this doctor in 2024.

Lilly USA, LLC reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported MOUNJARO as an associated drug or biological on 186719 records involving 66436 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 175 claims for Mounjaro by this doctor in 2024.

Novo Nordisk Inc reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported Ozempic as an associated drug or biological on 261625 records involving 77793 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 170 claims for Ozempic by this doctor in 2024.

PFIZER INC. reported payments to this doctor in 2025. Across the 2025 Open Payments General Payment records loaded for this analysis, that same reporting entity reported ELIQUIS as an associated drug or biological on 87112 records involving 36032 distinct recipient NPIs. Public Medicare Part D data also shows 64 claims for Eliquis by this doctor in 2024.

These records do not establish that a payment influenced prescribing or medical care.

Payment overview · 2025

General Payments

$1,689.64

111 reported records · 23 companies

Separate record types

Research & Ownership

Research Payments (direct recipient): not present in the loaded data

Associated Research Funding (for example, named PI): not present in the loaded data

Ownership / Investment: not present in the loaded data

These categories are never added into the General Payments headline. Associated research funding must not be described as money the doctor personally received unless the source record supports that conclusion.

Who paid this doctor?

Companies in 2025 General Payments

Reported companyCanonical companyAmountShareRecordsYear
ABBVIE INC. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $510.4330.2%482025
Corcept Therapeutics Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $251.4814.9%142025
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $120.487.1%62025
Medtronic, Inc. Medtronic, Inc.
exact · evidence 2025-07-22
$85.605.1%22025
Dexcom, Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $60.553.6%32025
Abbott Laboratories Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $57.473.4%32025
GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $54.713.2%32025
Novo Nordisk Inc Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $48.172.9%32025
Eisai Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $47.472.8%22025
Antares Pharma, Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $47.422.8%32025
PFIZER INC. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $45.982.7%22025
Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $44.812.6%32025
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $42.522.5%32025
Sequel Med Tech, LLC Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $40.332.4%22025
ITI, Inc. (d/b/a Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.) Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $37.672.2%22025
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $31.131.8%22025
Lilly USA, LLC Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $30.831.8%22025
Astellas Pharma US Inc Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $29.201.7%22025
Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $25.241.5%22025
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $25.001.5%12025
Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $22.911.4%12025
Almatica Pharma LLC Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $16.391.0%12025
Amgen Inc. Unresolved — no canonical attribution shown $13.850.8%12025

What were the payments for?

Payment categories

CategoryAmountRecords
Food and Beverage$1,689.64111

A meal, consulting fee, royalty, and travel payment describe different kinds of reported relationships and should not be interpreted as equivalent.

Analysis 1 · Payment-linked products

Products named in Open Payments records

Reported productTypeReported companyRelated amount*RecordsYear
UBRELVY
Normalized: ubrelvy
Drug ABBVIE INC. $259.45 23 2025
Source payment records
Korlym
Normalized: korlym
Drug Corcept Therapeutics $251.48 14 2025
Source payment records
VRAYLAR
Normalized: vraylar
Drug ABBVIE INC. $236.15 24 2025
Source payment records
QULIPTA
Normalized: qulipta
Drug ABBVIE INC. $235.53 21 2025
Source payment records
Kerendia
Normalized: kerendia
Drug Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc. $120.48 6 2025
Source payment records
MINIMED 780G
Normalized: minimed 780g
Device Medtronic, Inc. $69.54 1 2025
Source payment records
Dexcom G6 Transmitter
Normalized: dexcom g6 transmitter
Medical Supply Dexcom, Inc. $60.55 3 2025
Source payment records
FREESTYLE LIBRE 3
Normalized: freestyle libre 3
Device Abbott Laboratories $57.47 3 2025
Source payment records
TRELEGY ELLIPTA
Normalized: trelegy ellipta
Drug GlaxoSmithKline, LLC. $54.71 3 2025
Source payment records
Leqembi
Normalized: leqembi
Drug Eisai Inc. $47.47 2 2025
Source payment records
XYOSTED
Normalized: xyosted
Drug Antares Pharma, Inc. $47.42 3 2025
Source payment records
NURTEC ODT
Normalized: nurtec odt
Drug PFIZER INC. $45.98 2 2025
Source payment records
HORIZANT
Normalized: horizant
Drug Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $44.81 3 2025
Source payment records
TWIIST
Normalized: twiist
Device Sequel Med Tech, LLC $40.33 2 2025
Source payment records
CAPLYTA
Normalized: caplyta
Drug ITI, Inc. (d/b/a Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.) $37.67 2 2025
Source payment records
Ozempic
Normalized: ozempic
Drug Novo Nordisk Inc $31.54 2 2025
Source payment records
Auvelity
Normalized: auvelity
Drug Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. $31.13 2 2025
Source payment records
MOUNJARO
Normalized: mounjaro
Drug Lilly USA, LLC $30.83 2 2025
Source payment records
ZEPBOUND
Normalized: zepbound
Drug Lilly USA, LLC $30.83 2 2025
Source payment records
Veozah
Normalized: veozah
Drug Astellas Pharma US Inc $29.20 2 2025
Source payment records
AIRSUPRA
Normalized: airsupra
Drug AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP $28.07 2 2025
Source payment records
ELIQUIS
Normalized: eliquis
Drug PFIZER INC. $27.24 1 2025
Source payment records
VOQUEZNA
Normalized: voquezna
Drug Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $25.24 2 2025
Source payment records
VERQUVO
Normalized: verquvo
Drug Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC $25.00 1 2025
Source payment records
XIFAXAN
Normalized: xifaxan
Drug Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC $22.91 1 2025
Source payment records
  • 2025-02-19 · Salix Pharmaceuticals, a division of Bausch Health US, LLC · $22.91 · Open Payments source
ZAVZPRET
Normalized: zavzpret
Drug PFIZER INC. $18.74 1 2025
Source payment records
Wegovy
Normalized: wegovy
Drug Novo Nordisk Inc $16.63 1 2025
Source payment records
LOREEV XR
Normalized: loreev xr
Drug Almatica Pharma LLC $16.39 1 2025
Source payment records
INCEPTIV
Normalized: inceptiv
Device Medtronic, Inc. $16.06 1 2025
Source payment records
LINZESS
Normalized: linzess
Drug ABBVIE INC. $14.83 1 2025
Source payment records
BREZTRI
Normalized: breztri
Drug AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP $14.45 1 2025
Source payment records
OTEZLA
Normalized: otezla
Drug Amgen Inc. $13.85 1 2025
Source payment records
REPATHA
Normalized: repatha
Biological Amgen Inc. $13.85 1 2025
Source payment records

* Product-associated amounts are non-additive because one payment record may name more than one product.

These products were named on specific Open Payments records. A named product does not show that the payment influenced treatment or prescribing.

Public prescribing for products named in payments

Open Payments productPayment yearPart D brandPart D yearClaimsMatch methodSource
ELIQUIS
eliquis
2025 Eliquis 2024 64 exact normalized Medicare Part D
LINZESS
linzess
2025 Linzess 2024 39
Beneficiary count suppressed
exact normalized Medicare Part D
MOUNJARO
mounjaro
2025 Mounjaro 2024 175 exact normalized Medicare Part D
Ozempic
ozempic
2025 Ozempic 2024 170 exact normalized Medicare Part D

The presence of the same drug in both datasets does not show that a payment caused or influenced a prescription.

Analysis 2 · Same-company prescribing overlap

Drugs reported in other payments from the same company that also appear in Medicare Part D

This analysis is independent from products named on this doctor’s individual payment records. A row appears only when the exact Open Payments reporting entity paid this doctor, that same reporting entity reported the drug or biological on at least 10 loaded General Payment records involving at least 2 distinct recipient NPIs, and this doctor has the same non-generic brand in public Part D data. This does not mean the company owns or manufactures the drug.

Paying companyPayment yearDrug reported by same entityOpen Payments evidencePart DClaimsBeneficiaries
ABBVIE INC.
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 LINZESS
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
87954 supporting records · 21815 recipient NPIs · example record 1201352608
Linzess · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
39 suppressed by CMS
ABBVIE INC.
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 SYNTHROID
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
10655 supporting records · 4881 recipient NPIs · example record 1201352636
Synthroid · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
78 21
Astellas Pharma US Inc
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 Myrbetriq
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
16 supporting records · 16 recipient NPIs · example record 1238599014
Myrbetriq · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
16 suppressed by CMS
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 FARXIGA
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
106133 supporting records · 42906 recipient NPIs · example record 1206131362
Farxiga · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
46 11
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 SYMBICORT
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
71 supporting records · 51 recipient NPIs · example record 1206132610
Symbicort · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
12 suppressed by CMS
Lilly USA, LLC
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 JARDIANCE
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
47708 supporting records · 23833 recipient NPIs · example record 1186464557
Jardiance · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
11 suppressed by CMS
Lilly USA, LLC
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 MOUNJARO
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
186719 supporting records · 66436 recipient NPIs · example record 1186464455
Mounjaro · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
175 47
Novo Nordisk Inc
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 Ozempic
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
261625 supporting records · 77793 recipient NPIs · example record 1188130076
Ozempic · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
170 41
PFIZER INC.
Exact reporting entity; no affiliate inference
2025 ELIQUIS
open payments reported associated product
CMS Open Payments — General Payments
87112 supporting records · 36032 recipient NPIs · example record 1228794063
Eliquis · 2024
Exact normalized brand match · 1 Part D row
64 20

These facts do not show that a payment was for the drug, that the company owns or manufactures the drug, or that a payment caused or influenced prescribing.

Public Medicare Part D data

Provider-and-drug rows loaded for 2024

BrandGenericClaimsBeneficiaries
Rosuvastatin CalciumRosuvastatin Calcium723225
Levothyroxine SodiumLevothyroxine Sodium604170
Liothyronine SodiumLiothyronine Sodium436122
AlprazolamAlprazolam43089
Losartan PotassiumLosartan Potassium30196
Pantoprazole SodiumPantoprazole Sodium29690
GabapentinGabapentin27584
Trazodone HclTrazodone Hcl26883
Hydrocodone-AcetaminophenHydrocodone/Acetaminophen26358
Amlodipine BesylateAmlodipine Besylate24179
Tamsulosin HclTamsulosin Hcl21666
Metoprolol SuccinateMetoprolol Succinate18059
MounjaroTirzepatide17547
Sertraline HclSertraline Hcl17553
OzempicSemaglutide17041
CelecoxibCelecoxib16855
Tramadol HclTramadol Hcl16843
Atorvastatin CalciumAtorvastatin Calcium15862
EzetimibeEzetimibe15845
Memantine HclMemantine Hcl15749
Metformin Hcl ErMetformin Hcl15651
IrbesartanIrbesartan15547
Olmesartan MedoxomilOlmesartan Medoxomil15250
Escitalopram OxalateEscitalopram Oxalate15049
OmeprazoleOmeprazole15053
Metformin HclMetformin Hcl14545
Montelukast SodiumMontelukast Sodium14052
Bupropion XlBupropion Hcl13841
FurosemideFurosemide13655
Metoprolol TartrateMetoprolol Tartrate13140
LisinoprilLisinopril11246
AllopurinolAllopurinol11034
FamotidineFamotidine10740
ValsartanValsartan10232
ClopidogrelClopidogrel Bisulfate9935
MeloxicamMeloxicam8733
Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloride8732
FinasterideFinasteride8425
Fluoxetine HclFluoxetine Hcl8227
EstradiolEstradiol7824
SynthroidLevothyroxine Sodium7821
Acetaminophen-CodeineAcetaminophen With Codeine7612
ClonazepamClonazepam7613
Testosterone CypionateTestosterone Cypionate6920
Fluticasone PropionateFluticasone Propionate6627
Ondansetron OdtOndansetron6634
Pioglitazone HclPioglitazone Hcl6617
EliquisApixaban6420
SimvastatinSimvastatin6418
CarvedilolCarvedilol6327
Citalopram HbrCitalopram Hydrobromide6217
Cyclobenzaprine HclCyclobenzaprine Hcl6122
Duloxetine HclDuloxetine Hcl5922
FluconazoleFluconazole5936
HydrochlorothiazideHydrochlorothiazide5925
PregabalinPregabalin5922
Albuterol Sulfate HfaAlbuterol Sulfate5825
TelmisartanTelmisartan5817
MethocarbamolMethocarbamol5426
AnastrozoleAnastrozole5216
Clonidine HclClonidine Hcl5019
MethylprednisoloneMethylprednisolone4930
Triamterene-HydrochlorothiazidTriamterene/Hydrochlorothiazid4714
FarxigaDapagliflozin Propanediol4611
TemazepamTemazepam45suppressed
Levocetirizine DihydrochlorideLevocetirizine Dihydrochloride4415
ClarithromycinClarithromycin4337
MethotrexateMethotrexate Sodium4212
Butalbital-Acetaminophen-CaffeButalb/Acetaminophen/Caffeine41suppressed
Dicyclomine HclDicyclomine Hcl4114
Azelastine HclAzelastine Hcl4023
Esomeprazole MagnesiumEsomeprazole Magnesium4012
Pravastatin SodiumPravastatin Sodium4014
LinzessLinaclotide39suppressed
Amoxicillin-Clavulanate PotassAmoxicillin/Potassium Clav3832
LorazepamLorazepam36suppressed
Venlafaxine Hcl ErVenlafaxine Hcl36suppressed
TopiramateTopiramate3511
Nitrofurantoin Mono-MacroNitrofurantoin Monohyd/M-Cryst3425
ZaleplonZaleplon33suppressed
Oxybutynin ChlorideOxybutynin Chloride31suppressed
Soliqua 100-33Insulin Glargine/Lixisenatide31suppressed
Losartan-HydrochlorothiazideLosartan/Hydrochlorothiazide2912
SucralfateSucralfate2913
DiazepamDiazepam28suppressed
Propranolol HclPropranolol Hcl28suppressed
Donepezil HclDonepezil Hcl27suppressed
GlimepirideGlimepiride27suppressed
SpironolactoneSpironolactone2712
Clindamycin HclClindamycin Hcl2626
Hydroxyzine HclHydroxyzine Hcl2614
PrednisonePrednisone26suppressed
Sulfamethoxazole-TrimethoprimSulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim2621
Tizanidine HclTizanidine Hcl2612
XareltoRivaroxaban25suppressed
ChlorthalidoneChlorthalidone24suppressed
Olmesartan-HydrochlorothiazideOlmesartan/Hydrochlorothiazide2412
Terbinafine HclTerbinafine Hcl24suppressed
Zolpidem TartrateZolpidem Tartrate24suppressed
Nebivolol HclNebivolol Hcl23suppressed
Colesevelam HclColesevelam Hcl22suppressed
LovastatinLovastatin22suppressed
Quetiapine FumarateQuetiapine Fumarate22suppressed
AtenololAtenolol21suppressed
CarisoprodolCarisoprodol21suppressed
IbuprofenIbuprofen21suppressed
Oxycodone-AcetaminophenOxycodone Hcl/Acetaminophen21suppressed
RizatriptanRizatriptan Benzoate21suppressed
AcyclovirAcyclovir20suppressed
Bupropion Hcl SrBupropion Hcl20suppressed
Meclizine HclMeclizine Hcl2011
MetronidazoleMetronidazole2018
MupirocinMupirocin2019
ValacyclovirValacyclovir Hcl2011
Lisinopril-HydrochlorothiazideLisinopril/Hydrochlorothiazide19suppressed
RamiprilRamipril19suppressed
Amitriptyline HclAmitriptyline Hcl18suppressed
BaclofenBaclofen18suppressed
LevetiracetamLevetiracetam18suppressed
Ropinirole HclRopinirole Hcl18suppressed
Diltiazem 24hr Er (Cd)Diltiazem Hcl17suppressed
Doxycycline MonohydrateDoxycycline Monohydrate1713
Hydralazine HclHydralazine Hcl17suppressed
Toujeo SolostarInsulin Glargine,hum.Rec.Anlog17suppressed
Buspirone HclBuspirone Hcl16suppressed
DigoxinDigoxin16suppressed
MyrbetriqMirabegron16suppressed
CephalexinCephalexin1412
Folic AcidFolic Acid14suppressed
Hydroxychloroquine SulfateHydroxychloroquine Sulfate14suppressed
LamotrigineLamotrigine14suppressed
Paroxetine HclParoxetine Hcl14suppressed
Doxycycline HyclateDoxycycline Hyclate13suppressed
GlipizideGlipizide13suppressed
Janumet XrSitagliptin Phos/Metformin Hcl13suppressed
Methylphenidate ErMethylphenidate Hcl13suppressed
Warfarin SodiumWarfarin Sodium13suppressed
Divalproex SodiumDivalproex Sodium12suppressed
FebuxostatFebuxostat12suppressed
Fluvoxamine MaleateFluvoxamine Maleate12suppressed
JanuviaSitagliptin Phosphate12suppressed
Oxybutynin Chloride ErOxybutynin Chloride12suppressed
Promethazine HclPromethazine Hcl12suppressed
SymbicortBudesonide/Formoterol Fumarate12suppressed
ColchicineColchicine11suppressed
Diphenoxylate-AtropineDiphenoxylate Hcl/Atropine11suppressed
ExelonRivastigmine11suppressed
FenofibrateFenofibrate11suppressed
JardianceEmpagliflozin11suppressed
Lantus SolostarInsulin Glargine,hum.Rec.Anlog11suppressed
MirtazapineMirtazapine11suppressed
NitroglycerinNitroglycerin11suppressed
Sildenafil CitrateSildenafil Citrate11suppressed
Tresiba Flextouch U-100Insulin Degludec11suppressed

Timeline

Payment and prescribing data by year

Open Payments and Medicare Part D may refer to different years. They are shown separately rather than aligned as if they describe the same period.

YearGeneral PaymentsMain payerExplicit productsCompany overlapsPart D coverage
2025 $1,689.64 · 111 records ABBVIE INC. AIRSUPRA, Auvelity, BREZTRI, CAPLYTA, Dexcom G6 Transmitter, ELIQUIS, FREESTYLE LIBRE 3, HORIZANT, INCEPTIV, Kerendia, Korlym, LINZESS, LOREEV XR, Leqembi, MINIMED 780G, MOUNJARO, NURTEC ODT, OTEZLA, Ozempic, QULIPTA, REPATHA, TRELEGY ELLIPTA, TWIIST, UBRELVY, VERQUVO, VOQUEZNA, VRAYLAR, Veozah, Wegovy, XIFAXAN, XYOSTED, ZAVZPRET, ZEPBOUND 9
2024 Complete

Questions to ask

Questions you could discuss with your doctor

These are general questions generated from reviewed templates. They are not personalized medical advice.

Sources and limitations

How to read this page

Loaded source releases

DatasetYearPublicationSource
CMS Open Payments — General Payments 2025 2026-06-30 Original source
Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug 2024 2026-05-06 Original source
NPPES Data Dissemination V2 current / reference data 2026-08-10 Original source

Methodology version: 2.1

Editorial template version: 2.4

Product contract version: 2.0

Schema version: 0.7.0

Page data build: 2026-08-12T23:34:59.370714+00:00

Publication policy: eligible for indexing after public-launch controls are enabled

Full methodology · Questions & answers · Report a possible error