Comments on: Are conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry causing a rift at Harvard Medical School? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with.html medical blog Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:35:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with.html/comment-page-1#comment-90319 Anonymous Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:23:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with-the-pharmaceutical-industry-causing-a-rift-at-harvard-medical-school.html#comment-90319 I love it how the innocent little snowflakes at Harvard are not bright enough to discern the data for themselves and they want to blame influence on the drug company. If anyone in medicine allows to be influenced by anything other than data they should go into politics. But the ivory tower teaching institutions have taught the impressionable minds that all data is bad unless its data on a 4 dollar generic drug. So go prescribe and use Digitalis because its cheap. I love it how the innocent little snowflakes at Harvard are not bright enough to discern the data for themselves and they want to blame influence on the drug company. If anyone in medicine allows to be influenced by anything other than data they should go into politics. But the ivory tower teaching institutions have taught the impressionable minds that all data is bad unless its data on a 4 dollar generic drug. So go prescribe and use Digitalis because its cheap.

]]> By: M http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with.html/comment-page-1#comment-90280 M Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:20:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with-the-pharmaceutical-industry-causing-a-rift-at-harvard-medical-school.html#comment-90280 I'm a Harvard medical student, and let me say this definitively, having gone through the first two years of curriculum: WE HARDLY LEARN PHARMACOLOGY. There is a two week course on Pharmacology where many, many drugs are discussed without much emphasis placed on one or the other, more on general concepts. During our pathophysiology courses, drug treatments are rarely if ever discussed despite protests of the students to be taught more. That's an issue of the curriculum, but from a conflict of interest standpoint, there's simply no opportunity to be "influenced" by the industry. Drug influence in Harvard Medical School research by faculty is an entirely different issue. In the curriculum, clamoring about drug industry influence is a joke. I’m a Harvard medical student, and let me say this definitively, having gone through the first two years of curriculum: WE HARDLY LEARN PHARMACOLOGY. There is a two week course on Pharmacology where many, many drugs are discussed without much emphasis placed on one or the other, more on general concepts. During our pathophysiology courses, drug treatments are rarely if ever discussed despite protests of the students to be taught more. That’s an issue of the curriculum, but from a conflict of interest standpoint, there’s simply no opportunity to be “influenced” by the industry. Drug influence in Harvard Medical School research by faculty is an entirely different issue. In the curriculum, clamoring about drug industry influence is a joke.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with.html/comment-page-1#comment-90268 Anonymous Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:21:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with-the-pharmaceutical-industry-causing-a-rift-at-harvard-medical-school.html#comment-90268 So, they don't want to be educated by world-class experts in pharmacy?<br/><br/>OK...give them a copy of Lippencott and tell them they're on their own.<br/><br/>They can't have it both ways. So, they don’t want to be educated by world-class experts in pharmacy?

OK…give them a copy of Lippencott and tell them they’re on their own.

They can’t have it both ways.

]]> By: David http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with.html/comment-page-1#comment-90265 David Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:16:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with-the-pharmaceutical-industry-causing-a-rift-at-harvard-medical-school.html#comment-90265 I love that the student felt 'violated'. Get over it! Harvard (at least undergrad) is so full of liberal types that I'm not surprised they would feel 'violated' that a professor actually gets money from a drug company. But keep in mind, if you BELIEVE IN A PRODUCT (especially statins, which ARE beneficial products) then you might (1) accept money from them to give your opinion to others (2) tell a medical student that they are indeed good products. There is nothing dishonest about this. (Although there probably was no reason to belittle the student).<br/><br/>But in today's super-liberal environment, it is not bad acts but the "appearance of impropriety" that takes precedence. People have no problem if a non-scientist/non-expert (like an actor) endorses a hair product - but ask a well-respected expert to endorse a product that they understand, and people feel 'violated'. I love that the student felt ‘violated’. Get over it! Harvard (at least undergrad) is so full of liberal types that I’m not surprised they would feel ‘violated’ that a professor actually gets money from a drug company. But keep in mind, if you BELIEVE IN A PRODUCT (especially statins, which ARE beneficial products) then you might (1) accept money from them to give your opinion to others (2) tell a medical student that they are indeed good products. There is nothing dishonest about this. (Although there probably was no reason to belittle the student).

But in today’s super-liberal environment, it is not bad acts but the “appearance of impropriety” that takes precedence. People have no problem if a non-scientist/non-expert (like an actor) endorses a hair product – but ask a well-respected expert to endorse a product that they understand, and people feel ‘violated’.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with.html/comment-page-1#comment-90263 Anonymous Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:57:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2009/03/are-conflicts-of-interest-with-the-pharmaceutical-industry-causing-a-rift-at-harvard-medical-school.html#comment-90263 I don't know. Apparently pens, sticky notes and an occasional piece of pizza is all that it takes to corrupt us out in the community. But in the rarified atmosphere of Harvard maybe large sums of money have no similar effect. I don’t know. Apparently pens, sticky notes and an occasional piece of pizza is all that it takes to corrupt us out in the community. But in the rarified atmosphere of Harvard maybe large sums of money have no similar effect.

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