BMJ  2006;333:1027 (11 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39024.654086.59

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Doctors must not be lapdogs to drug firms

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

Last month I gave a talk at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, about the influence of the drug industry on continuing medical education. As usual, pharmaceutical companies contributed funds to the conference, and there was a small exhibition area with the usual monopoly of drug firms.

Immediately after my talk, one pharmaceutical company representative announced to a conference organiser that her company would no longer support the annual conference. Another packed up his exhibit and walked out. Other drug representatives were observed muttering angrily into their cell phones, which may, or may not, have been related to the near total exhibitor boycott the next day. Only one exhibitor showed up, prompting a physician friend of mine to remark, "Maybe he missed your talk."

I had been so thrilled to receive my first United States invitation (outside of my university) to speak about how pharmaceutical companies manipulate prescribing. OK, to . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Pimazoni, A. (2006). Doctors as lapdogs to drug firms: Not lapdogs, not pit bulls. BMJ 333: 1122-1122 [Full text]  
• Blumsohn, A. (2006). Doctors as lapdogs to drug firms: The beast is ourselves. BMJ 333: 1121-1121 [Full text]  
• Mansfield, P. R (2006). Doctors as lapdogs to drug firms: Independence may be most cost effective way to improve health care. BMJ 333: 1121-1122 [Full text]  

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