Columbia executives say, though, that the investments are too small to affect doctors' medical decisions.

Columbia executives insisted they were not concerned about the Midler movie.

"These films are going to be released six weeks apart," said one Columbia executive.

"A Columbia executive took me to lunch," he said.

Columbia executives acknowledged pushing to conclude the training quickly, but said this could be positive.

"It was not necessary to roll this film out," said one Columbia executive.

But when doctors raised the issue with Columbia executives, they ordered the equipment.

Fawcett is at the center of the first indictment handed up in the case against three Columbia executives.

The Columbia executive said the studio had no plans to withdraw the film from theaters across the nation.