In recent weeks, several state legislatures have been working feverishly to remove perceived potential conflicts of interest between doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Citing transparency as their goal, state lawmakers in Vermont, Minnesota, New York and elsewhere have passed “marketing-disclosure†laws that require drug companies to divulge all payments made to doctors.
These directives have arisen amid accusations that drug manufacturers have usurped the FDA process, essentially paying doctors to get their drugs on the market before a drug’s safety can be guaranteed.
Imagine if the scientific community had ignored Louis Pasteur’s research on bacteria and fermentation simply because he had received funding from the wine industry. Science would have been set back immeasurably, and you might not be able to buy safe, pasteurized milk in your local supermarket today. Talk about food safety!
The rest of the story can be found at http://www.projo.com under "Opinion." (It's the Providence Journal.)
Have a nice weekend.
These directives have arisen amid accusations that drug manufacturers have usurped the FDA process, essentially paying doctors to get their drugs on the market before a drug’s safety can be guaranteed.
Imagine if the scientific community had ignored Louis Pasteur’s research on bacteria and fermentation simply because he had received funding from the wine industry. Science would have been set back immeasurably, and you might not be able to buy safe, pasteurized milk in your local supermarket today. Talk about food safety!
The rest of the story can be found at http://www.projo.com under "Opinion." (It's the Providence Journal.)
Have a nice weekend.
