Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11864

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

Khan MM.
Why I declined an invitation to a drug company seminar
BMJ 2007 Oct 27; 335:(7625):887
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7625/887?etoc

Abstract:

I was recently invited by a pharmaceutical company to a seminar in a five star hotel in Pakistan, where I live and work. The seminar was on mental health, and the company had invited a “foreign speaker” to talk on the subject.

I declined the invitation. These were the reasons I gave: “Thank you for your invitation which for ethical reasons I have to decline. I consider all interactions of physicians with pharmaceutical companies unethical and a cause of serious conflict of interest. I also do not accept any gifts, large or small, in any shape, form, or size from any drug company. I do not attend pharmaceutical company sponsored seminars (such as the one you are arranging) or go on ‘drug launches’ or attend conferences at drug companies’ expense. I consider all such activities as a form of bribery by pharmaceutical companies to physicians.

“You will be spending a . . .

murad.khan@aku.edu