Pharma Commentaries

Blogs: The Prevention of Ignorance

By Dan Abshear Historically, information sources provided to American citizens were limited due to the few methods available to the public. And also this information was subject to being filtered and, in some cases, delayed. This occurred for a number of reasons, which included political ones. Now, and with great elation, there is the internet. [...]

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Crime and Punishment: Enough for Corporate Wrongdoing?

By Dan Abshear Corporate crime should not be a new concept to many. However, it has evolved into more troubling ways- not only in regards to its severity, but the methods of deterrence now being implemented against corporations- involved in the health care industry in particular. So it may be becoming progressively worse for U.S. [...]

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Are Drug Reps Really Necessary?

By Dan Abshear One of the main functions of pharmaceutical representatives is to provide free samples to doctor’s offices presently instead of authentic persuasion, and these samples in themselves cost billions to the pharmaceutical industry. Arguably, samples are the most influential tool in influencing the prescribing habit of a health care provider. Let me be [...]

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Pharma Nice Place to Work If Not Field-Based

Big pharma has always been touted as a great place to work, especially its “family-friendliness”. WSJ’s Health Blog today, for example, lists examples of an attractive big pharma work place to include flexible work schedules and paid paternity leaves. Those of us who have worked in the field in big pharma (and small pharma and [...]

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Individual Accountability and How Doctors Are Also Businessmen

Steve Woodruff brought to my attention an article that accuses drug reps of using “brainwashing” tactics to influence doctors, and that the pharma industry and the FDA are “victimizing” patients. This led to my comments on the reality of today’s healthcare environment, and how doctors are, in reality, as much in the role of businessmen [...]

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