Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18222

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

Sibbald B
Dispute over use of MDs' prescribing information heading to court
CMAJ 2003 Feb 4; 168:(8):325
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC140480/

Abstract:

A Toronto company is challenging a controversial ruling by Canada’s privacy commissioner that the collection and sale of information about physicians’ prescribing habits does not violate their privacy. The CMA, which also disagreed with the ruling, is seeking intervener status in the Federal Court case.
IMS Health (Canada) and other companies have collected prescribing data from pharmacies for years, and the information has been sold to pharmaceutical companies for about 10 years. The companies use it for drug-detailing purposes, since the information identifies “high prescribers.”