No more free lunches: The market has us all in its grip

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7410.342

BMJ 2003;327:342 (9 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7410.342

Letter

No more free lunches

The market has us all in its grip

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—The relationship between the pharmaceutical industryand the medical profession is natural and can be constructiveand cooperative, as well as dishonourable and damaging.¹

Any debate on the influence of marketing on decision makingand health outcome is considered to be too doctrinaire to beworth while. The subdued response to the theme issue from hospitalpractitioners is testimony to their belief that it is futile.The market has us all in its grip.

Decisions in cancer care, for example, are largely groundedin evidence when it exists. Despite the army of representativespreaching their company gospels, the existence of guidelines,protocols, and consensus statements make it difficult to influencethe influential. However, the press often carries stories ofanother cure for cancer, and the health service is frequently accused of not providing a life saving drug. The industry thriveson this publicity.

Promotion of new chemotherapies is . . . [Full text of this article]

K S Madhavan, senior registrar

Radiation Oncology Department, St Luke's Hospital, Dublin 6, Republic of Ireland ksmadhavanuk@yahoo.co.uk