List: I thought some of you might be interested in one example of how Pharm Inc. begins to influence the medical profession's objectivity, even BEFORE they become licensed practitioners. Roger
"Regarding an earlier enquiry about med school handouts related to corporate public relations... I asked a few current UBC med students if they could think of some specific examples (as opposed to 'we get stuff all the time, but I can't think of who or what right now), and in the past month the following were brought to my attention (and are therefore an incomplete list). 1. Welch Allen handed out mugs (no big deal), and has paid for some students' books from their 'book fund'. 2. All students get an annual subscription to CMAJ paid for by MD Management, which is an asset management company that specializes in doctors' financial portfolios and businesses &c. MD Management also paid for the drinks (alcohol) at Skits Night. 3. Every couple of weeks there is a 'lunch' for residents held at some of the hospitals in the Lower Mainland. Residents attend a legitemate medical lecture, which is sponsored by some company, who also pays for the food. Usually, the lecture subject is relevant to a product the company sells, and sometimes the sponsoring company has a product pitch by a rep at the end of the lecture. For example, last month Mead Johnson pitched their baby formula at the end of a paediatric nutrition lecture. The lectures would probably take place without sponsorship. 4. Abott gave away 60 glucometers to 4th years last month. These are the 'expensive ones' that even measure ketones. I can't estimate the retail value until I see the actual model. More vaguely, the perception is that students only have to ask for something reasonable and it's theirs. So, the fact that most UBC student functions are unsponsored (covered by the ticket sales) is an indication that the students are aware that the sponsorships are an ethical disaster. They routinely turn down sponsorship offers for events such as the Medicine Ball, or for their sports teams' travel and uniforms. -Graeme." -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. To join or quit silver-list or silver-digest send an e-mail message to: silver-list-requ...@eskimo.com -or- silver-digest-requ...@eskimo.com with the word subscribe or unsubscribe in the SUBJECT line. To post, address your message to: silver-list@eskimo.com Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <mdev...@eskimo.com>
