tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732132352927731247.post4142368873622580558..comments2024-03-16T00:27:31.848-07:00Comments on Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Cutting the Gordian Knot: Legal Ban on Gifts/Bribes?Howard Brodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00599587504924835039noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732132352927731247.post-84877129899792859182011-02-16T20:00:41.591-08:002011-02-16T20:00:41.591-08:00Giving gifts to doctors sounds like bribery to me....Giving gifts to doctors sounds like bribery to me. I know for a fact that Pharmaceutical companies practice this habit of gift giving in order to gain a doctor's approval in promoting and using their medicines at the hospitals where they work.Pharmacy Feedbackhttp://www.bestpharmguide.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732132352927731247.post-32685820210504060322011-02-13T18:58:05.405-08:002011-02-13T18:58:05.405-08:00Michael's comment above is a very telling poin...Michael's comment above is a very telling point. If the pharmaceutical companies would only apply to their relationshiop with phyysicians the same ethical rules they expect their own employees to follow, gifts/bribes would be out the window tomorrow.Howard Brodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00599587504924835039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732132352927731247.post-13552824460304791942011-02-13T17:42:44.643-08:002011-02-13T17:42:44.643-08:00What are the policies that gift-giving pharmaceuti...What are the policies that gift-giving pharmaceutical companies have about their employees’ receiving gifts? Here’s an update of my comment (July 16, 2010 4:22 PM) on The Carlat Psychiatry Blog entry, “Food Stamps for Doctors: Mass Legislature Votes Today” Wednesday, July 7, 2010 (http://tinyurl.com/4ltm7ar):<br /><br />Effective July 1, 2010, Vermont law banned giving gifts, with some exceptions, to healthcare providers. Before then, Vermont law required pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose gifts to physicians and other health care professionals. The most recent data, for fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009), show that the manufacturers spent about $2.6 million. Physicians and nurses received about $2.1 million of these gifts. Gifts worth less than $25 were exempt from disclosure. The top five spenders for marketing in Vermont during FY 2009 were Pfizer, Lilly, Forest, Merck, and GSK. These data, which do not reveal the actual amount spent by each company, are at http://tinyurl.com/27f5pmm.<br /><br />Here are the policies of these top five spenders about their own employees receiving gifts.<br /><br />Pfizer<br />The Blue Book: Summary of Pfizer Policies on Business Conduct (http://tinyurl.com/25ufurl), p. 27<br />Giving and Accepting Gifts, Entertainment, Loans, or Other Favors<br />The Company prohibits you...from giving and receiving gifts, services, perks, entertainment, or other items of more than token or nominal monetary value to or from the Company’s suppliers, customers, or other third parties. Moreover, gifts of nominal value are permitted only if they are not given or received on a regular or frequent basis.<br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Lilly<br />The Red Book: Code of Business Conduct 2010 (www.lilly.com/pdf/red_book.pdf), p. 34<br />Certain types of dealings with suppliers or potential suppliers also present conflicts or the appearance of conflicts. Employees must not accept gifts, entertainment, payments, or personal services from parties who conduct or seek to conduct business with Lilly.<br />~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Forest Laboratories<br />Code of Business Conduct & Ethics (http://tinyurl.com/2auk2cm)<br />4. Conflicts of Interest<br />All employees, officers and directors of the Company must be scrupulous in avoiding any conflict of interest.... Conflicts of interest may also include...situations where an employee...receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position in the Company.... Conflicts of interest are prohibited as a matter of Company policy, except under guidelines approved by the Board of Directors or committees of the Board.<br />~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Merck & Co: Our Values and Standards: The Basis of Our Success<br />Edition II Code of Conduct (www.merck.com/about/code_of_conduct.pdf), p. 10<br />Receiving Gifts<br />(While the receipt of gifts may be more common in the context of supplier relationships, these guidelines are included here for ease of reference and convenience.)<br />As a common business courtesy, we may receive occasional gifts, provided that:<br />• The gift is of nominal value (e.g., pens, notepads, calendars, etc.);...<br />•The gift is neither intended nor likely to be perceived by others to improperly influence our business decisions. Occasionally, there may be times when refusing a gift would be impractical or embarrassing. In those rare instances where the gift is of substantial value, accept the gift on behalf of the Company, report it to your manager, and turn the gift over to your local/regional finance director, who will handle its disposition.<br />~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />GSK Code of Conduct (www.gsk.com/about/downloads/Policy-Code-Conduct.pdf), p. 3<br />4.3. Acceptance of Entertainment and Gifts<br />GSK Staff may accept gifts or entertainment that are lawful and ethical, supports GSK’s business, (e.g., not just for staff well being or use), are infrequent, low in value, and are customary in a business relationship (e.g., pens, coffee mugs or calendars). If any Staff is uncertain about whether a gift is permitted or not, he or she must seek guidance from their supervisor, or a Compliance Officer.<br /><br />The unblinking hypocrisy is galling.Michael S. Altus, PhD, ELShttp://www.intensivecarecomm.comnoreply@blogger.com