Profession
Group wants doctors to boast of refusing to see drug reps
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 18, 2008
First came the "no free lunch" pledge, now comes the "no drug reps" certificate. Washington, D.C.-based PharmedOut, funded by a $400,000 grant from the Warner-Lambert settlement over allegations of deceptive off-label marketing of Neurontin (gabapentin), is pushing the concept.
The certificate boasts that doctors in a "no drug reps" practice refuse pharmaceutical sales consultant visits because "we rely on scientific information, not marketing, to decide what is best for you."
The PharmedOut initiative joins other efforts aimed at turning refusal to interact with industry into a point of pride for physicians. For example, the 10,000-member National Physicians Alliance recently launched its "unbranded doctor" campaign, in which physicians are urged to throw out drugmaker gifts such as pens, wall clocks, note pads and the like. About one in five doctors refuses to see drug reps, according to a study of 180,000 doctors conducted last year by marketing firm SK&A Healthcare Information Solutions.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America says detailer visits can keep busy doctors up to date with new and improved drug therapies. American Medical Association policy says doctors should accept only gifts intended to benefit patients and worth $100 or less, and that drug samples should be given only to patients, not friends or family.
The "no drug reps" certificate is available at the PharmedOut Web site (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/08/18/prbf0818.htm.
