Many phycisians become involved in taking "gifts" from pharmaceutical companies from medical school to the end of their practice. Pharmaceutical companies start them to feel comfortable receiving these "gifts" in medical school by presenting students "gifts" with their logos' such as medical bags, binders, clocks, file folders, rulers, calculators, physician reference books, watches, stethoscopes, symposiums on the pharmaceutical industrie product which gives the doctors the credits for post graduation to keep their liciences and free meals.

The students in the medical field become accustumed to receiving these "gifts", and doctors' must have a little arrogance in their personality to enable them to diagnose, confidently, patient health problems. This arrogance, which is not a negative trait for doctors, enables the doctor to feel the "gifts" as perks they are entitled to as a part of their job. Who can blame the doctors' when they accept the samples and "gifts" of pens, pencils, prescription pads and so on that the pharmaceutical rep. brings when he presents his company product? Why should the doctor shell out his hard earned income when a pharmaceutical company offers for free a seminar that counts for credit for continuing education?

The Pharmaceutical Industry complains that they are already up to their ears with FDA regulations. If they were trustworthy, they would not require all the regulations. Pharmaceutical companies are in the position of providing a needed service to US citizens and International markets while satisfying the stockholders with big dividends. I don't think I could define better the definition of "conflict of interest" than what the Pharmaceutical Industry finds itself in. They want to "police" themselves even with the conflict of interest that defines the industry. This results in indoctrination of physicians of being "entitled" to receive gifts, poorer patient care and higher costs for drugs.

If you are a patient you must take this ethical debate to heart. The bills proposed in the post Paula made concerns you and your childrens futures.
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION AND CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMAN.

Thanks Paula,
Vicky