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Some states are trying to pass laws that would ban all gifts to physicians from the medical industry, including free meals for doctors and their staff, pens, pads, and other inexpensive items. Some medical centers have banned all visits from medical company reps on their campuses and do not allow their staff physicians to receive any gifts from the companies. What is your opinion on this?
#Response DateOther (please specify)
1.6/11/2008 1:55:00 PMThe gifts are inexpensive and for the most part physicians see the reps not for the inexpensive gifts but to get samples for their patients who cant afford the meds.
2.6/11/2008 1:58:00 PMPhysicians may accept gifts, but ONLY if they are of nominal value
3.6/11/2008 1:59:00 PMPhysicians may accept gifts, but ONLY if they are of nominal value
4.6/11/2008 2:09:00 PMhow ignorant can state legislatures be...and THEY THEMSELVES accept gifts up to a certain value
5.6/11/2008 2:15:00 PMminor gifts of trivial expense &quot;oil the wheels&quot; of personal interaction and do not in my view compromise anyone's integrity
6.6/11/2008 6:28:00 PMMeals aren't free - the companies want our time. I lose more than I'm compensated in meals when I dine with reps.
7.6/12/2008 12:58:00 AMAll gifts should be medially pertinent and directly or indirectly affect patient care (i.e., textbooks, journal access by web sites, PDA programs usable in direct patient care). Free gasoline is not included. Again, if a physcian can be bought by a free-lunch, maybe they should not be taking care of patients. It seems that these types are mostly in academia (maybe because these physicians are not sufficiently paid by their institution and may need to look for income elsewhere)
8.6/12/2008 2:03:00 AMWhats the big deal over a free pen?
9.6/12/2008 4:37:00 AMCheck how much cash the politicians and attorneys are getting -- we get a pen or notepad
10.6/12/2008 11:59:00 AMI consider it an insult to my intelligence and medical acumen that anyone should think that a throwaway pen will influence my prescribing practice.
11.6/12/2008 7:46:00 PMI did that act in our practice 15 years ago
12.6/23/2008 11:05:00 AMLawyer, politicians and investment banker do this all the time behind their doors. They should be required to do the same...
13.6/23/2008 12:49:00 PMreimbursement only for travel and lecture expenses
14.6/24/2008 3:02:00 AMPhysician's don't care about the gifts, get rid of them.
15.6/26/2008 2:07:00 AMAgain think inexpensive items and food ok, no more.
16.6/26/2008 2:26:00 AMAgain think inexpensive items and food ok, no more.