radioh3ad said:
or is it simply glossed over? i'm talking about issues like the HealthSouth scandals, conflict of interest (paid seminars, brochure quotes, "scientific" articles), etc.
it's a bit naive not to expect any business tendencies in ANY field including medicine, but seriously why is healthcare the most fraudulent business in the U.S.? at least Wall Street admits their aim is money.
well, there's a whole lot to learn so I would say that in general the economics and buisness aspects of medicine both good and corrupt get the shaft in medical education. That said, we have had lectures/lunch talks about the conflicts of interest that you mentioned. So yeah, there's awareness.
Personally I'm always highly critical of any data presented to me by someone with an agenda, and I have a personal rule not to use anything with a drug or drug company name on it in an area where there is patient contact (pens, notepads, magnets, etc) Or if its useful/cool (ie the awesome Zithromax tongue-depressor light) I black out everything that identifies the company and drug name. I take any free food that anyone will give me for any reason...but that doesn't mean I have to listen to them.
I don't know why you feel that its the most fraudulent business in the US, but I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion.
As for the bill other posters have discussed. Yeah, everyone is in the pocket of Big Pharma and that, without a doubt, played a role in the senators decision to recommend that nutritional supplements come under the control of the pharm companies (presummably, I haven't heard of this bill). To its credit, such a measure might standardize supplements and insure that the 'active' ingrediants are actually present and at their advertised dose. Although I would think an FDA-like institution could accomplish the same goal...whatever, it goes to pharm companies because they pay everyone right, left, and center.
