Keeping the door open between doctors and private industry

The Wall Street Journal Health blog brings attention to legislation in Massachusetts that would ban all gifts from pharmaceutical companies to physicians. But a group of physicians from Harvard is opposing the legislation, saying that the vague language of the legislation would effectively close communication between doctors and industry.

Drug reps who visit doctors can play an important education role and provide useful clinical information to doctors. There is cause for concern when the relationship between drug companies and physicians is not transparent, as demonstrated by the revealed use of ghostwriters to write journal articles about drugs. But as in most situations in life, the solution is not to further restrict communication. Greater transparency in the relationship can create an environment where both can learn from and benefit each other.

You can see the article here: http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/04/17/bring-on-the-drug-reps/?mod=WSJBlog.