Well, I’m going through the refresher course to get my human subjects research certificate renewed.
There IS controversy and debate about the influence of big Pharma’s profit motive on medicine. And I think a Merck bought president of MD Anderson would be a problem. However, I don’t KNOW that President Pinho is bought and paid for. I probably was talking out the wrong end on that one. Moreover, I think a great deal of the rabid anti-pharma sentiment is misplaced - they’re doing like they’ve done with energy - someone does something stupid, or careless, or illegal and instead of focusing on the offender, and looking for others, they try to shut down the whole industry.
Anyway, no hard feelings I hope.
You're absolutely right about the rabid anti-pharma sentiment. The drug industry has done some unfortunate things but, in most cases, they've done these things because of some government interference. Government would love to kill the golden goose. That would be a travesty. Too many folks who call themselves conservative support policies that would ensure the demise of this industry. The US is one of the last markets where the drug industry can make a profit. Profit drives innovation. I want more innovation, not less. Price controlled markets do not produce new drugs. That's why so many of all the new drug discoveries happen here in the USA.
The problem, whatever it might be, will always stem from government, not industry. Thanks for the debate.