Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6768

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Publication type: Journal Article

Chiu JT.
Personal use of drug samples by physicians and office staff.
JAMA 1997 Nov 19; 278:(19):1568

Abstract:

Shen Nung who purportedly founded Chinese herbal medicine by testing hundreds of potentially medicinal plants would have been the first known offender. It is naïve to believe that such practice will make a quark of difference in drug cost. By choosing a certain brand a physician is actually giving the drug a personal endorsement. Although I agree that a physician should not use samples for a chronic condition, the short-term use can actually enhance treatment skill by noting the efficacy and adverse effects first hand.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/United States/ Advertising* Drug Industry* Drug Utilization* Ethics Humans Interprofessional Relations Medical Staff* Physicians* United States