Drug company ties pervasive among department heads at U.S. med schools

Yahoo Canada ~ The Candian Press ^ | 10/16/2007 | Lindsey Tanner

[Woodstock]

CHICAGO - Nearly two-thirds of academic leaders surveyed at U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals have financial ties to industry, illustrating how pervasive these relationships have become, researchers say.

Serving as paid consultants or accepting industry money for free meals and drinks were among the most common practices reported by the heads of academic departments.

Drug companies and makers of medical devices often use these connections to influence doctors to use products that aren't necessarily in the patient's best interest, said Eric Campbell, the study's lead author. He is a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Since academic department heads set the tone for appropriate conduct at their institutions, their actions signal to medical students and others that this is appropriate behaviour, Campbell said.

The survey went to all 125 accredited medical schools and the nation's 15 largest teaching hospitals. About two-thirds of the department heads responded. The study gave no specific examples, nor did it name any institutions.

Many studies have examined doctor ties to drug companies. Campbell co-authored research last year that found company ties were common among hospital review boards that oversee experiments on patients.

The new study shows that drug companies "are involved in every aspect of medical care," Campbell said.

Overall, 60 per cent of department heads reported some type of personal financial relationship with industry. More than one-quarter - 27 per cent - said they had recently served as a paid consultant. The same percentage reported serving on a company scientific advisory board; and 21 per cent who headed departments of medical specialties closely related to patient care said they had served on speakers' bureaus for industry.

The results appear in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

Alan Goldhammer of the industry group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said the study results don't mean these relationships are a problem. He said it makes sense to reach out to academic heads because they have the most expertise.

But Dr. Jerome Kassirer, a former New England Journal of Medicine editor and frequent critic of industry influence over doctors, called the study eye-opening.

"I was appalled by the results," Kassirer said. "No one knew that so many chairs of medicine and psychiatry were paid speakers. We've never had that data before."

He noted that financial ties can benefit patients when they are related to research or other scientific purposes that increase doctors' education or lead to the development of better drugs or medical products.

But they are dangerous when doctors are so beholden to the company that they withhold safety concerns or push the newest or most expensive products when they aren't necessarily best for the patient, Kassirer said.

The researchers sent surveys last year to 688 department heads at all 125 accredited U.S. medical schools and the 15 largest teaching hospitals. A total of 459 people responded, or 67 per cent. Included were departments closely related to patient care, such as surgery or anesthesiology, and "nonclinical" departments more closely related to basic science.

Among those in charge of departments related to patient care, 65 per cent said their departments had recently accepted industry money for continuing medical education; half reported recently getting industry money for food or drinks; 30 per cent reported getting money for travel and meetings.

Overall, 67 per cent said their departments had received some type industry money.

Fewer than 10 per cent of chairs with personal financial relationships said those ties had any negative effects.

Dr. David Korn, a senior vice-president at the Association of American Medical Colleges, which helped conduct the study, said the results aren't surprising or necessarily cause for concern.

Medical schools generally have policies governing relationships with industry to "make sure that they remained principled," Korn said.

"There is a real need to have good exchanges of information" between medical schools and industry, Korn said. "After all, when a new product is approved," the maker "knows about it better than anyone else."

Still, "gifting and favouring" are problematic, he said, and an association task force is examining the issue.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is not a good thing. Physicians are thought to be trained in the knowledge of human health, but it appears that the main focus of medical schools is expertise in which pills to prescribe. Many physicians have no training or knowlege of alternative or natural medicine, for example.

[Hydroshock]

I recently changed doctors. My old doctor was always getting sale reps from big pharma, I was in there 3 timesin 2 years and twice there were sales reps there. And he kept perscriping the newest most expensive pills even for simple colds.

[tips up]

Is it OK for athletes and entertainers to endorse and advertise products for pay?

Does Tiger Woods really think a Buick is the best car out there?

[proudofthesouth]

I used to work for a large group of Residents. They were REQUIRED by the medical school running the program to attend lunch everyday (unless occupied at the hospital) to listen to pharmaceutical and medical equipment reps. Those coming in to speak paid for (i.e. their companies) paid for the Residents lunches. I'm taking 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year for at least an hour's lunch listening to these reps. Also, the JUNK they received (post it pads, pens, calculators, writing pads, doodads, etc. was AMAZING!

[Gorzaloon]

This writer needs STATINS!!!

20-30 Mg a day, at least! Desperately!

[PA Engineer]

Many studies have examined doctor ties to drug companies. Campbell co-authored research last year that found company ties were common among hospital review boards that oversee experiments on patients.

FDA requires patient trials. Of course there are ties with the review boards. Total BS beat up on drug companies and MDs. With socialized medicine "Stark" laws the alleged abuse is rare. Absolute bs.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I agree.

[Lou L]

Nearly two-thirds of academic leaders surveyed at U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals have financial ties to industry, illustrating how pervasive these relationships have become, researchers say.

What an absurd statement. If not top physicians and other healthcare experts tied to pharmaceutical companies--pharmaceuticals being a legitimate form of enhancing one's health--who else should be tied to pharma companies?

This is like saying that small software companies are tied to Microsoft and Oracle.

[Grenada]

They were REQUIRED by the medical school running the program to attend lunch everyday (unless occupied at the hospital) to listen to pharmaceutical and medical equipment reps.

My husband finished his OB/GYN residency last year and he was never REQUIRED to attend a single drug rep lunch. Never. Also, the drug reps only came once or twice a month. Certainly not everyday or even, every week. In 4 yearshe got a few pens and --whoo-hoo-- a mouse pad. The days of trips and expensive perks form the drug companies are LONG gone.

[proudofthesouth]

Maybe its the type of doctors these were. They were Family Medicine Residents.....

I finally quit cause I got so tired of not only doing the work of several people but also the Resident’s egos, the “indoctrination” lunches and the junk they received that I know consumers were paying for.

[SauronOfMordor]

My old doctor was always getting sale reps from big pharma, I was in there 3 timesin 2 years and twice there were sales reps there.

What were your observations of the sales reps themselves? The sister of a friend is a pharma rep. Absolutely gorgeous. Goes out drinking with the docs she markets to.

[Hydroshock]

Late 20’s guys. To much hair jell.