In a message dated 6/14/02 4:40:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> American Medical Association's ethics-committee chairman said such fees
> [paid by drug representatives to see physicians] may violate ethical
> guidelines for doctors.
>
Dear Friends:
     Ethical guidelines? Pray tell how does charging fees to see reps compare
with handing out free samples (and lunches and pens and books) of the latest
(and most expensive) medications? Talk about a pot calling the kettle black!
     And when is $3,000/month a paltry sum? I wish such paltry sums would
show up in my bank account!
     It will be interesting to see how medical professionals inform
themselves about new drugs if the reps stop going to their offices. They
might have to use resources such as Dr. Hale and the AAP.
     Nice work, Dr. Ruddick.
     "Dr. Frank Riddick, chairman of the ethics committee, boils it down:
Doctors shouldn't take money, directly or indirectly, to be "educated"
by drug reps, nor should they accept gifts. Fees paid to doctors should
be for professional services, he said, and drug-company visits don't
qualify. "Either way you slice it, it's in violation of the existing rules on
the
interaction," he said. "Our decision was: Physicians shouldn't be paid
to educate themselves, and if it's not education, then it's a gift."
     Warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MSN, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CIMI, CCE, craniosacral therapy
Adjunct faculty, Union Institute and University, Maternal and Child Health:
Lactation Consulting
Supporting the WHO Code and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative

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