Daniel Carlat, Professor of Psychiatrist at Tufts Medical School, Massachusetts, Boston, wrote in the article "Diagnosis : conflict of interest" in The New York Times that drug industry financing medical education has increased fourfold since 1998 and has "set the agenda for what doctors learn about drugs, crucial information about potential drug dangers is played down to the detriment of patient care."
The current debate of the diabetes drug Avandia and the withdrawal of Vioxx in 2004 are just two examples of such corruption. He said that "drug companies should never have been allowed to become the primary educators for America's doctors"
It was suggested that CME sponsored by drug companies shlould/would be discredited, doctors would be encouraged to seek CME from other sources. "A commitment to unbiased education would allow doctors to learn about drug risks sooner for the good of doctors and patients."
An earlier posting "There is no free lunch" discussed the relationship between physicians and drug industry and how it changes physicians prescribing behaviour.
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