Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6489

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

Kleiner K.
A sackful of money helps the medicine go down
New Scientist 1994 Mar 12; 6-7

Abstract:

Doctors who accept fees for speaking at conferences, free meals or other perks from a drug company are more likely to recommend that the company’s products be placed on a hospital formulary. In 1991, the American Medical Association published guidelines for doctors about accepting gifts from the industry but the guidelines allow doctors to conduct research funded by drug companies, to accept money for speaking at symposia and to accept modest meals. The AMA doesn’t see the need to tighten its guidelines. The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association dismisses concern that perks might influence doctors.

Keywords:
*news story/United States/gift giving/hospitals/formularies/ AMA/ American Medical Association/ drug company sponsored meals and travel/ drug company sponsored research/ conference speakers/ gift giving/ guidelines, discussion of/ Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (US)/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: GIFT GIVING/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: FORMULARY INCLUSION/PROMOTION DISGUISED: COMPANY SPONSORED SPEAKING TOURS AND CONFERENCE SPEAKERS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS