Pharmaceutical Promotions — A Free Lunch?

Some time ago it came to the attention of our Pharmacy and Committee that some faculty members were sponsoring drug. . . . Since this activity seemed somewhat out of line with earlier views of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, a task force was set up to look into issues that arise in the general context of a drug fair. It was decided well to look more generally at the interactions between faculty members and drug industry. At the outset of the task force's deliberations it became clear that there was a tremendous spread of opinion about the between physicians and the drug industry. We all agreed that fairs should be proscribed. But then we considered activities that be permitted, but with strings attached. Here I began to differ from my. After I had indicted the general nature of my position it became that we would not be able to proceed at all unless I wrote a minority. . . . This is the substance of my report. . . .