Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19723

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Rodwin MA.
Reforming pharmaceutical industry-physician financial relationships: lessons from the United States, France, and Japan.
J Law Med Ethics 2011; 39:(4):662-70 doi: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2011.00633.x.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-720X.2011.00633.x/abstract;jsessionid=87F44D2C068F3A098926CD3CA202E752.d04t03

Abstract:

This article compares the means that the United States, France, and Japan use to oversee pharmaceutical industry-physician financial relationships. These countries rely on professional and/or industry ethical codes, anti-kickback laws, and fair trade practice laws. They restrict kickbacks the most strictly, allow wide latitude on gifts, and generally permit drug firms to fund professional activities and associations. Consequently, to avoid legal liability, drug firms often replace kickbacks with gifts and grants. The paper concludes by proposing reforms that address problems that persist when firms replace kickbacks with gifts and grants based on the experience of the three countries.