NYTimes Editorial Page


There is an editorial in the New York Times today that contains the statement

"the medical profession has sold its soul in exchange for what can only be described as bribes from the manufacturers of drugs and medical devices."

This seems extremely simplistic and insulting to me. After firing off an angry letter to the editor, I thought it might be interesting to discuss the topic here.

What do you think? Has the medical profession "sold its soul"? In your opinion, is this type of drug and device company influence more common among PCPs or certain specialists?

This is very insulting! sure there probably *are* a small number of physicians/pharmacists that fall prey to these tactics but for the most part MOST physicians have the interests of patients foremost when they prescribe or do procedures. I think that we are smart enough to KNOW which medications are appropriate and are not pushed into either way due to gifts/lunches. It seems that we are always under attack although dentists offices ALSO get visits from product makers and nobody writes about that...and let me tell ya...a visit to the dentist now is much more expensive than the visit to the PCP! and forget any type of gum issue you might as well mortgage your home. I guess the folks making these blanket statements do not realize the huge amount of education we have under our belts and the huge amount of respetc we have for our patients. Every doc that I have spent time with has always done what is best for their patient period.

I agree, a blanket statement like that insults all of us--physicians and medical students alike. From a medical student’s point of view, if it isn’t complete total sense to you in the beginning (it should be) many medical schools are now taking a lot of time to focus on education and ethics of these exact situations. Frankly, I think it wastes my time but if it helps the people out there who were questionable on what is and isn't appropriate then it is worth it. Big news media is constantly making these kinds of blanket statements to grab attention but they are often based on anecdotal "facts."

First, I am offended by the article too. But (sigh) there are always two sides. I work in clinical research. Many patients view me as the creepy research person that lunches everyday with the pharma reps. not true. My group is ULTRA patient oriented. Our PI wouldn't have it any other way. All of the products, drugs and devices that do come from the pharmas and their reps must meet top standards and there is no 'selling out.' Actually imposssible from this stand point.
However, there is 'that other side.' Many times I have been in my PCP's office and a drug rep butt's their way in. You can't help but wonder what is going on behind closed doors. If my PCP was a sell out, she wouldn't be in business for long, no matter how many free samples of stuff she gave to patients etc.
If people do not trust their clinicians, they should move on to a new one. :boggled: