As I was finishing up with my new pulmonologist on Thursday, I watched him open his closet that was filled with samples of medicine. There were shelves from head to foot and were the gifts the pharmaceutical company representatives must have given him to distribute to his patients. He was looking for an inhaler and exclaimed that he would probably have to give me a prescription, as he seemed to be out of that particular brand. No worries however as he scanned the shelves he found another from another equally prestigious company and said here Jack, this should do the trick. What came to mind immediately was that he indeed was the Wizard of Oz. Just like the cowardly lion who was decorated for courage with a medal, the Tin Man who was administered his clockwork heart and the Scarecrow a diploma for his brain; Jack was given his inhaler to restore his breathing to some sort of order from his bout with asthmatic bronchitis. Since Dorothy wasn’t in the room I didn’t have to feel badly that someone wasn’t going back to Kansas.
P.S.
I am feeling better Mr. Wizard!
Some years ago as a graduate student I wrote a paper concerning the frequency of distribution of medications to patients after a visit from Drug Reps (known in the industry as Detail People). Fact Drug Reps are not required to have scientific background. MD's are being encouraged to prescribe medication for their patients by salespeople. Be cautious you are ultimately responsible for your own well being.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for the above poster: Have you ever needed an antibiotic, have a friend or loved one whom has needed chemotherapy? Thank the pharmaceutical industry that you seem to have a misguided bias against. It is their research that funds 90% of the worlds medical miracles, which save the lives of those around you. Talk to a pharmaceutical rep, you will be very surprised at how much they know. You will even be more surprised to learn how little of the same information your physician knows.
ReplyDeleteWell there are two sides to any argument. And sometimes I think doctors conduct tests that are not necessary. And quite frankly the drug industry is misguided using commercials to have uneducated consumers ask their doctor about using their product. It's about the profit motive.
ReplyDeleteThere has never been a story to proclaim that the pharma industry was non-profit was there? or did i miss it? The industry is held to much higher standards than most other industries..such as wall street, politicians, etc. And last I checked...it SAVES lives in the end. People are living longer b/c of the medicine it produces..combined w/ a healthier lifestyle. shame on you (general) that you are completely misinformed. And ps....over 20% of the profits (at least for 1 company that I know well) goes directly back into R&D to help your friend/mother/father/brother/sister..fight that life threatening disease.... find another industry that does that...i will be waiting...
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