The News
80% of doctors let drugmakers pay tab
Despite efforts to tighten ethics rules, a survey finds most physicians accept food, drug samples or fees from drug reps.
By Alicia Chang The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 04/26/2007 12:02:19 AM MDT
Four out of five doctors surveyed said they let drug- and device-makers buy them food and drinks despite recent efforts to tighten ethics rules and avoid conflicts of interest.
The national survey also found that family doctors were more likely to meet with industry sales representatives, and that cardiologists were more likely to pocket fees than other specialists.
The study is the first to document the extent of the relationships between doctors and sales reps since 2002, when a leading industry group adopted voluntary guidelines discouraging companies from giving doctors gifts or tickets. In general, researchers found hardly anything had changed.
Consumer advocates say this is proof the new rules aren't working.
"These findings are fairly disturbing. There appears to be no dialing back at all on these relationships," said Merrill Goozner of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The Research
Read the research behind this story in the journal New England Journal of Medicine.