BMJ  2005;330 (16 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7496.0-g

Editor's choice

Say no to the free lunch

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

Are you a pig or a weasel? Or do you consider yourself above all that? When the BMJ published a special issue on the links between doctors and drug companies in 2003, the cover showed pigs in white coats lunching and golfing with weasel drug reps. At the time this seemed strong stuff even to those involved in editing the issue. But little has happened since to suggest that the image was wrong. In fact, every day new revelations suggest that the reality is worse.

The power of drug companies to buy influence over every key group in health care—doctors, charities, patient groups, journalists, politicians—has clearly shocked a UK parliamentary committee (p 855). It should shock us all. Can we console ourselves that companies' lavish spending on research and marketing, which far outstrips spending on independent research and drug information, leads to truly innovative treatments? No, says the . . . [Full text of this article]

Fiona Godlee, editor

(fgodlee@bmj.com)


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Rapid Responses:

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