Doctors, nurses, and drug company reps

[sbj405]

I was at two doctor's offices today and both had drug company representatives there providing lunch and a myriad of logo items to the nurses and doctors. One had multiple reps there. Hmmm and somehow we are supposed to believe that the high cost of drugs are related to their R&D costs. In addition, the second office had a full waiting room while the nurses and doctors chatting away with Mr. drug rep. Thus, it could probably be said their presence was detracting from the quality of care.

Any nurses or doctors have experience with these people? Please tell me all these free lunches don't actually sway professional opinions. Though I suppose the companies must feel there is some cost benefit to them.

[commander bunnypants]

1. Just went to one today

What they do is provide lunch, pens etc. Then you listen to how wonderful their drug is, physiological, psychological, tests based against similar drugs and placebos, blah blah blah. It really is informative.


DDQM

[Warpy]

2. That stuff is chump change

Advertising costs now cost drug companies three dollars for every buck they spend on research, and that cost reflects direct television and print advertising to paitents who cannot prescribe this stuff for themselves. I can't begin to address the ethics of this one, and it's the stupidest decision ever to come out of a GOP Congress to allow them to do this crap. Patients clamor to doctors to get the drugs for every ill the drug companies make them imagine they have, and sales of targeted drugs skyrocket. The total advertising budget is, of course, passed on wholly to people who lack insurance and people who rely solely on Medicare for their health needs. HMOs and insurance companies can negotiate Canadian level drug costs for themselves, of course, leaving those least able to pay holding the bag for all this garbage.

[liberalhistorian]

3. I was just at my gynecologist's office

last week, and the same thing was happening there, it really pissed me off because they were chatting and yukking it up with the docs right in front of the sign that said if you didn't have insurance they couldn't accept you unless you paid UP FRONT right there! Talk about perfect symbolism.