No more free lunches

Abstract

Patients will benefit from doctors and drug companies disentangling

Promotional methods used by representatives of drug companies: A prospective survey in general practice

“…In contrast, it is common belief that the drug industry strongly influences prescribing, but there is a lack of knowledge about the actual extent of this influence and the GP characteristics associated with susceptibility to influence. The pharmaceutical industry is a for-profit business and therefore is expected to market its products aggressively [4]. Contrary to this, physicians' challenge is to ensure that their patients receive the best and least expensive drugs.…”

Conflicts of interest: how money clouds objectivity

“…19 The cover of the journalwhich summed up the whole issue for many-showed doctors as pigs gorging at a banquet and playing golf with the drug company representatives as lizards; a patientdepicted as a guinea pig-sat amazed at the whole escapade. The BMJ's target was more doctors than drug companies, but the companies were very upset and threatened to withdraw £750 000 of advertising.…”

Conflicto de intereses en la práctica clínica: Análisis ético de algunas relaciones con la industria

“…pero es evidente que los médicos no requieren asistir a banquetes, alojarse en hoteles lujosos o recibir regalos onerosos para prescribir lo que es mejor para su paciente, así como las empresas no deberían necesitar el ofrecimiento de regalos para promocionar la prescripción de sus productos 27 .…”