Drug reps in hospitals offer free lunch's, cheap pens and goodies to doctors in hospitals. They usually appear once or twice a week. Something about this form of advertising just doesn't sit quite right with me. I haven't really thought deeply enough about the subject to come out with an eloquent answer when asked why I don't touch the food provided by the drug reps during some 'grand rounds'. I should, and I imagine I probably will at some point. I understand why drugs are advertised, but I also think that medical practice and treatment should be guided purely by what is the best treatment for the patient, and not necessarily guided by advertisement of the latest drugs. I think, as humans, whether we realise it or not, are affected by gifts. Someone does you a good turn/gives you something, you can't help but a feel indebted. I just feel that feeling is badly placed when it comes to commercially orientated companies.
The 'no free lunch' position is explained in these websites: (US version and UK version) better than I ever could.
For good evidence:
UK - drugs and therapeutics bulletin
Canada = therapeutics initiative
US - The medical letter
No comments:
Post a Comment