PII: S0002-9343(00)00346-6

Abstract

Dr. Davis’ concern about physician encounters with pharmaceutical sales representatives is certainly not unique. In years past, representatives of organized medicine, such as the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians, have cautioned about the potential for real or perceived improprieties in these encounters. Our survey (1Ferguson R.P. Rhim E. Belizaine W. et al.Physicians in practice. Encounters with pharmaceutical sales representatives.Am J Med. 1999; 107: 149-152Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (37) Google Scholar) included four questions regarding ethical concerns that were not included in the final manuscript; 70% of the physicians who saw sales representatives had at least one ethical concern.Given these concerns, why do physicians continue to meet with pharmaceutical sales representatives? One explanation is simply the sheer volume of new drugs on the market (the FDA approved 291 drug applications between 1994 and 1996) (2Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalent Evaluation. Rockville, Md: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Headquarters Unit, USFDA Headquarters; 1997.Google Scholar). Physicians need help to stay current, which pharmaceutical sales representatives are happy to provide. In addition, the pharmaceutical industry is an enormous supporter of medical education and research. Now, more than ever, organized medicine and the pharmaceutical industry have become partners at many levels.To borrow from Woody Allen, a family was asked why they had not sought professional help for one of their members who thought he was a chicken. They wanted to, they said, but they needed the eggs. Dr. Davis’ concern about physician encounters with pharmaceutical sales representatives is certainly not unique. In years past, representatives of organized medicine, such as the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians, have cautioned about the potential for real or perceived improprieties in these encounters. Our survey (1Ferguson R.P. Rhim E. Belizaine W. et al.Physicians in practice. Encounters with pharmaceutical sales representatives.Am J Med. 1999; 107: 149-152Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (37) Google Scholar) included four questions regarding ethical concerns that were not included in the final manuscript; 70% of the physicians who saw sales representatives had at least one ethical concern. Given these concerns, why do physicians continue to meet with pharmaceutical sales representatives? One explanation is simply the sheer volume of new drugs on the market (the FDA approved 291 drug applications between 1994 and 1996) (2Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalent Evaluation. Rockville, Md: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Headquarters Unit, USFDA Headquarters; 1997.Google Scholar). Physicians need help to stay current, which pharmaceutical sales representatives are happy to provide. In addition, the pharmaceutical industry is an enormous supporter of medical education and research. Now, more than ever, organized medicine and the pharmaceutical industry have become partners at many levels. To borrow from Woody Allen, a family was asked why they had not sought professional help for one of their members who thought he was a chicken. They wanted to, they said, but they needed the eggs.