Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6775

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

Westfall J, McCabe J, Nicholas RA.
Personal use of drug samples by physicians and office staff [reply]
JAMA 1997 Nov 19; 278:(19):1569

Abstract:

We agree with Margolis’ and Rosner’s reiteration of the multitude of ethical dilemmas facing health care. However, we believe the issues surrounding the use of drug samples deserve wide discussion and debate. Rosner’s broader discussion of other gifts also deserves continued discussion. Reynolds appears to have misunderstood our calculations but the dollar amount is not the important issue, the ethical implications of taking drug samples for personal use is. Drug testing and taking drug samples for personal use is not the same issue as Chiu suggests. Limaye and Pauuw report on the hazards of self-treatment with samples. In our experience house staff may have a lower threshold for treating themselves with antibiotics than is warranted by their condition. The benefits of providing samples to needy patients as described by Mehta are outweighed by the fact that the samples are typically the newer, more expensive medicines. Needy patients cannot afford them on a long-term basis. We appreciate Tenery’s updated citation. We are puzzled by the seemingly incongruent language used in the new code. We encourage the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs to continue active discussion and bring more definitive language to the next edition of the code.

Keywords:
*letter to the editor/United States/