On 2/4/2014 8:29 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 2/3/2014 10:00 PM, Peter wrote:
I don't think you've read my reply in the context of the original
posting. And, I'm not part of any "new brood"; I'm a senior
citizen.

I never said or implied that no physicians accept pharmaceutical
freebies. I said that such freebies rarely meet State standards
for continuing medical education. Personally, I never accepted
those invitations, found private practice too mercenary, and spent
30 years on active duty as a medical officer in the military. I
happen to agree with your criticism of the pharmaceutical companies
and although physicians cannot be compelled to sign a promise to
prescribe in return for the freebies, the companies' intent is
clearly apparent and those M.D.s' bias to prescribe accordingly
has been well documented, even when it is a subconscious bias. You
jumped to entirely unwarranted conclusions.

I prefer capitalism over socialism. But both are known to bias the
thinking of physicians. I'd rather have doctors carrying pocket full
of Metamucil tongue depressors, opposed to having to phone a
bureaucrat in Washington every time the MD wants to prescribe
acetaminophen.


Bogus assertion. Never happened. Regardless of the system of practice,
physician choices may be constrained by logistical and financial issues
(either the patient's or the medical care system). How about the common
problem of a private physician believing that a certain med is most
appropriate for a specific private patient, but that patient's insurance
won't cover the cost of that med and it costs far more than the patient
can afford out of pocket?