Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSeaCat
You make a valid point that some pdocs are certainly pretty deep in the drug reps pocket, but my aunt is a drug rep and they can't even give out pens with the companies name on them anymore. Most of the time if they want doctors to prescribe a medication they usually buy catered lunch for the entire office staff to not seem biased. A lot of drug reps in my area do this, It could be entirely different in some places though. I do think some docs let drug reps influence their decisions too much.  |
Some of the guidelines for drug reps vary from state-to-state. My state is now very strict and docs have to report anything over the value of $50.00, except for med samples.
There is a web site where we can run a doctor's name and can see all they have reported, including income from speaking engagements.
My last pdoc owned a large practice. He'd stopped any/all drug reps from coming into the practice. His reason? One reason was that he'd found himself starting people on a med because he had been supplied with samples and starter packs. Once he'd realized this was influencing his med choice, he'd stopped the reps from visiting.
I have several doctors and they are all skeptical of what a drug rep tells them. The docs insist upon seeing well-designed double-blind studies, etc.
WC