Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20048

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

Kell P
GPs can think for themselves, thank you
Medical Observer 2005 Aug 525

Full text:

Editor: I was annoyed to read yet again the idealistic views of the politically correct police who advise us not to accept gifts from pharmaceutical companies (‘Gift pens and notepads labelled unethical’, Medical Observer, 1 July).

As if the pen or pad on our desk will alter our prescribing habits. Even if it did, so what?

If a doctor prescribes Seretide because they are influenced by a purple dragon or a glow-in-the-dark pen, there’s a little more to worry about then their “relationship” with the pharmaceutical company.

Let’s face it, we need the pharmaceutical companies and they need us. They provide the tools of our trade.

They want to tell us about their latest products and we need to hear about them.

We were educated so we could make sensible clinical decisions, but we need to know what’s available in terms of medications.

GPs have limited time to research multiple new areas – visits from pharmaceutical reps are ideal ways of getting news updates.

The last assault on the ‘hands that feed us’ resulted in the banning of spouses being provided for at pharmaceutical functions.

For those of us who work in rural communities, these dinners were great. We got the updates, usually from independent specialist speakers from the city, and our spouse got to network and catch up with each other.

It also helped to reduce the resentment for the long hours that we work serving our communities.

Thanks very much for looking out for us poor gullible GPs. Great job.

Dr Peter Kell
GP obstetrician
Mandurah, WA