Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

I eat lunch with drug company representatives and I’m proud of it

Stewart Segal, MD
Meds
December 1, 2011
349 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Today, I want to review another article I wrote in last year.  That article started with a confession: “I confessed that I ate lunch with a representative of a pharmaceutical company.”

I must now confess that I often eat lunch with representatives of pharmaceutical companies and I’m proud of it.  At this stage of my career, I can well afford my own lunch.  I could sit quietly and relax over a cup of decaf and a salad.  I could spend a little downtime with my wife and staff, but I don’t.  Recently, I stressed my need to learn as much as I can, in the limited time I have, in order to stay current with the most up to date diagnostic and treatment options.

So, I take business lunches with representatives from Pharma, medical equipment companies, home healthcare providers, and other practitioners whose knowledge helps me be a better doc.  Make no mistake.  These are business lunches and bring value to both myself and my patients in the form of knowledge and medicinal samples.

In 2012, the Sunshine Act goes into effect.  Last year, I wrote:

In an effort to disparage my profession, the government has passed the Sunshine Act.  They are going to publish, on the internet, the names of doctors who dine with drug reps.  The inference is that the pharmaceutical companies are buying my business.  The inference is that doctors are cheap whores and will sell out their patients for a pad of paper, a pen with a product name on it (both now banned by law) or a lunch (still legal).

Our government will start collecting data on more than just lunches.  While no one knows exactly what their intent is, most physicians are afraid of this law and the innuendo that physicians are doing something wrong when they accept patient samples, patient educational materials, lunches, and speaker fees. (When I teach physicians on behalf of a pharmaceutical company, I am paid for my time and expertise.)

Rumors abound and even suggest that your physician will be taxed on the samples he/she dispenses to his/her patient.  I fear that the Sunshine Act will be the end of pharmaceutical reps, patient samples, and lunch time educational programs.  What a shame.

It is interesting that the same congressional leaders who freely take campaign contributions from big business, who lunch at pricey restaurants with lobbyists, and who take trips sponsored by those seeking favor, passed this act.  The year 2012 signals the end of business as usual for my profession.

I will continue to lunch and learn for as long as Pharma and others wish to teach me about their wares.  I will be proud to see my name on web sites listing the dollar values of my lunches and speaker’s fee.  I believe my business lunches are time well spent.  I will continue to accept samples on behalf of my patients.

I will also enjoy quiet lunches with my wife and staff when The Sunshine Act finally destroys Pharma’s ability to put reps in the field.  Unfortunately, my reps will soon be unemployed.  My patients will no longer be able to obtain samples.  Restaurants who thrived on delivering lunches to docs’ office will suffer.  Congressional leaders will congratulate themselves and then go to lunch with the lobbyists from XYZ Heath Insurance Corp and it will be business as usual for everyone except the medical profession.

Stewart Segal is a family physician who blogs at Livewellthy.org.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Cancer rehab dramatically improves cancer care

November 30, 2011 Kevin 4
…
Next

Impersonal care from the new generation of physicians

December 1, 2011 Kevin 24
…

Tagged as: Medications, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Cancer rehab dramatically improves cancer care
Next Post >
Impersonal care from the new generation of physicians

More by Stewart Segal, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    I dream of practicing free medicine

    Stewart Segal, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    I have a problem and my problem is me

    Stewart Segal, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Click, click, click: How can I help you today?

    Stewart Segal, MD

More in Meds

  • The deadly consequences of a shortage: The Pluvicto crisis leaves metastatic prostate cancer patients in limbo

    Matt Drewes
  • The real story of Xylazine contamination in street fentanyl and how we can manage it

    Julie Craig, MD
  • The cannabis education gap: Why patients are left in the dark

    Timothy Byars
  • Are doctors ready to discuss psychedelic therapies with patients?

    Thaís Salles Araujo, MD
  • The rise and dark side of fungi: Exploring health benefits and pathogenic threats

    Sandra Vamos, EdD and Deanna Lernihan, MPH
  • Advocacy and collaboration lead to major patient safety benefits on sterile pharmaceutical compounding: a review of USP’s revisions to Chapter <797>

    Elizabeth Rebello, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A patient’s perspective on the diminishing relationship between doctors and patients

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Unmasking wage disparity in health care: the truth behind the Elmhurst Hospital physician strike

      Kevin Pho, MD | KevinMD
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • How electronic health records preserve patients’ legacies in the words of oncologists

      Marc Braunstein, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Unmasking the brutal reality of gun violence in America: a call to action for unity and meaningful change

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Policy
    • Emulating Michael Jordan’s winning mindset: a path to success for health care professionals and entrepreneurs

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The growing threat to transgender health care: implications for patients, providers, and trainees

      Carson Hartlage | Policy
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Raw humanity on night float: inspiring patient encounters and overcoming challenges

      Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Is AI the solution for the shortage of nephrologists? ChatGPT weighs in.

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Tech
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Why HIPAA is failing and what you need to know to protect your data [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Revolutionizing emergency medicine: Overcoming long-term challenges with innovative solutions for physicians and patients

      Anonymous | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 59 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • What Drug Did FDA Just Approve for COVID?
  • PET Scan for Alzheimer's Dx; Predicting Colon Cancer Survival
  • What Happens When We Classify Kids' Weight as a 'Disease'?
  • Sotagliflozin Gets FDA's Blessing for Heart Failure
  • Cardiorespiratory Monitoring Can Be Telling of Outcomes in Extremely Preterm Infants

Meeting Coverage

  • No Access to Routine Healthcare Biggest Barrier to HPV Vaccination
  • Trial Results Spark Talk of Curing More Metastatic Cervical Cancers
  • Cross-Border Collaboration Improves Survival in Pediatric Leukemia Patients
  • Monoclonal Antibody Reduced Need For Transfusions in Low-Risk MDS
  • Less-Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer Proves Safe, Effective
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A patient’s perspective on the diminishing relationship between doctors and patients

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Unmasking wage disparity in health care: the truth behind the Elmhurst Hospital physician strike

      Kevin Pho, MD | KevinMD
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • How electronic health records preserve patients’ legacies in the words of oncologists

      Marc Braunstein, MD, PhD | Physician
    • Unmasking the brutal reality of gun violence in America: a call to action for unity and meaningful change

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Policy
    • Emulating Michael Jordan’s winning mindset: a path to success for health care professionals and entrepreneurs

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The growing threat to transgender health care: implications for patients, providers, and trainees

      Carson Hartlage | Policy
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Why doctors aren’t to blame for the U.S. opioid crisis [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Raw humanity on night float: inspiring patient encounters and overcoming challenges

      Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH | Physician
    • Is AI the solution for the shortage of nephrologists? ChatGPT weighs in.

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Tech
    • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

      Althea Halchuck, EJD | Conditions
    • Why HIPAA is failing and what you need to know to protect your data [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Revolutionizing emergency medicine: Overcoming long-term challenges with innovative solutions for physicians and patients

      Anonymous | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

I eat lunch with drug company representatives and I’m proud of it
59 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...