Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3239

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

Donald AG.
Doctors and the pharmaceutical industry
Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 1984 May; 34:301

Abstract:

The argument advanced by Dr Taylor (December Journal p.825) has all the intellectual strength of an uncompromising ethical stance and all the weakness. It would result in a substantial increase in membership subscription. Annual Symposia costs would double. In Edinburgh town and gown have managed to accept benefactions with grace and without favour. Edinburgh graduates receive their degrees in the impressive McEwan Hall while Edinburgh citizens receive cultural nourishment in the Usher Hall. These benefactions arose from the profits of brewers and no doubt have promoted their products. The educational and cultural aspects which they provide, however, far outweigh any tendency to exacerbate what is an admitted national weakness. The Royal Colleges and University who together administer this postgraduate centre have not been inhibited from acknowledging the company that provided it, and no doubt postgraduate students are made more aware of the company name, but the lecturers who teach therapeutics are more likely to propose the cause of generic prescribing than proprietary medicines.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/United Kingdom/