Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20036

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: Magazine

Arthur I
Pharma Break
Australian Doctor 2006 Oct 2027

Full text:

Editor Dr Tim Chappell has made a good start to weaning off the nefarious effects of drug company dependence by making his consultation room a drug company-free zone – but his job is only half done (‘Impressions count’, Gut Feelings, 29 September).

The next step is to stop seeing those drug reps, whose primary purpose is to push their company’s drugs by giving selective and biased advice on the benefits of their drugs compared with other companies’ drugs which may be equally efficacious and cheaper – or the patients’ conditions may not require any drugs.

Lastly, he needs to become very selective about attending drug company product launches and drug promotion dinners masquerading as educational events.

Only then will he be able to say he has truly given up his drug company dependence and become truly in control.