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"When a great profession and capitalism interact, drama is likely to result." "Doctors and leaders of drug companies are mature, consenting parties in relationships that both are highly motivated to maintain." "Physicians who spend more times with reps are less likely to prescribe rationally." "The proliferating connections between doctors and the drug industry have brought the credibility of clinical medicine to an unprecedented crisis." "When trust goes, so too does the healing power of the doctor..." "Industry tactics take the form of "experimercials", "infomercials" and CME activities..." "...shine a much-needed ray of sunlight on a situation that contributes to the exorbitant cost of healthcare." "Many, if not all, of the drugs currently on the market simply wouldn't exist if it weren't for relationships..." "Conflicts arise when interests or commitments compromise independent judgement or loyalty to patients." "Reps increase drug sales by influencing physicians using finely titrated doses of friendship. Pharmaceutical gifting involves carefully calibrated generosity. Reps also recruit and audition 'Thought Leaders' to groom for the speaker circuit. IF detailing were an educational service it would be provided to all physicians not just those who affect market share." "The absence of reliable data on the industry's cost structures allows partisams on both sides of the debate to cite figures favourable to their own positions." "Key Opinion Leader is the somewhat Orwellian term used to describe the senior doctors who help drug companies sell drugs ... many leading specialists are being paid generous fees to peddle influence on behalf of the world's biggest drug companies." "If a physician is so naïve as to believe everything a representative says, that physician is to be pitied. Rather than condemn advertising speech we should train our physicians to be more discerning in what they believe. We mst realize the purpose of the pharmaceutical representative's visit and handle it professionally. I resent anyone telling me that I may not receive information as I choose because I am not capable of acting responsibly on it. That is censorship at its worst." "A principled partnership between industry and academia is essential if we are to preserve medical progress and continue to improve the health of our citizenry." "Revolution in medicine and technology is largely result of partnerships between private companies, entrepreneurial scientists and clinicians." "In the past we named sponsors of our research and education efforts as a way to honor them. Now we must itemize them so that others can discount our words and our work." "We now live in an informant culture in which COI vigilantes scan for opportunities to embarrass us. Worse, the idea that commercial relationships drive us from objectivity to the moral low ground provides the media with license to abuse us." |
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