Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3375

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Spiro HM.
Mammon and medicine. The rewards of clinical trials
JAMA. 1986 Mar 7;255(9):1174-5 1986 Mar 07; 255:(9):1174-5

Abstract:

KIE: The author raises the question of whether physicians should disclose the stakes they have as researchers in persuading their patients to participate in clinical trials. In the course of giving informed consent, patients are rarely told that their doctors may have strong financial and professional interests in recruiting them as subjects, that pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health pay research centers and physicians well for completed patient studies, and that professional advancement and distinction depend on the amount of research done. Spiro believes controlled clinical trials are valuable, but argues that full disclosure of the benefits that physicians expect to achieve from their patients’ willingness to serve as subjects will enhance the latters’ freedom to decide on participation.

(Limited to parts of article dealing with promotion.) When patients enter clinical trials sponsored by drug companies they should be told that the doctor is being paid by the company for each patient that is recruited.

Keywords:
*analysis/United States/drug company sponsored research/patients/ reimbursement to doctors/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENTS IN STUDIES Clinical Trials/standards* Disclosure* Humans Informed Consent* Research Subjects Research Support* Truth Disclosure* United States