Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4819

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

Brody H.
The company we keep: why physicians should refuse to see pharmaceutical representatives.
Ann Fam Med 2005 Jan-Feb; 3:(1):82-5
http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/content/full/3/1/82

Abstract:

Whether physicians ought to interact with pharmaceutical sales representatives (reps) is a question worthy of careful ethical analysis. The issue presents a challenge to both professional integrity and time management. Empirical data suggest that interactions with pharmaceutical reps increase the chances that the physician will act contrary to duties owed to the patient. Ideally, a physician might both interact with reps and also do the research necessary to counteract the commercial bias in their messages. But a physician who actually did that research would, in turn, be devoting a good deal of time that might better be spent in other activities. The counterargument, that one is obligated to see representatives to obtain free samples to best serve one’s patients, can be shown in most practice settings not to be compelling. Physicians ought to refuse to visit with representatives as a matter of both professional integrity and sensible time management.

Keywords:
Commerce Drug Industry/ethics* Physicians/ethics* health care delivery health services research

Notes:

Ralph Faggotter’s Comments:

Here is an excellent article by Howard Brody on why doctors should not see drug reps or accept their ‘hospitality’.