Healthy Skepticism Library item: 1933

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

Spilker B.
The benefits and risks of a pack of M&Ms: A pharmaceutical spokesman answers his industry's critics
Health Affairs 2002 3-4; 21:(2):243-244
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/reprint/21/2/243?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Spilker+B&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT

Abstract:

Brody and Jung fear that physicians are so lacking in integrity that they would ‘sell their souls’ for a pack of M&Ms and a few sandwiches and doughnuts. However, most physicians are not influenced by pharmaceutical industry promotion and make decisions solely based on the best medical interests of their patients. Physicians should not be denied contact with drug representatives and the useful information they can impart. Drug representatives are also useful channels of information about adverse reactions from physicians to drug companies. For example, after manufacturers encouraged physicians to watch for depression, diagnosis and treatment for depression doubled in the 1990s. Drug representatives are governed by rules and guidelines of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the relationship of representatives and physicians is spelled out in position statements of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Medical Association (AMA) that have been adopted by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The ACP specifies that gifts should not be accepted if they might influence or appear to influence the objectivity of clinical judgement. The AMA guidelines state that gifts are appropriate if they serve a genuine educational function. Jung has the right to return gifts, but his colleagues have the right to make their own decisions. We support the policies set forth in September by thirteen journal editors to ensure the independence of academic researchers who participate in industry-sponsored trials, and we encourage all authors to abide by them.

Keywords:
*analysis United States gifts pharmaceutical representatives prescribing behavior depression PhRMA Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America FDA Food and Drug administration American College of Physicians American Medical Association ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: GIFT GIVING ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE PROMOTION IN SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC AREAS: PSYCHIATRIC DISEASES PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DETAILING