Tag: physicians

Here I believe one’s point of reference should not be to the great model of language and signs, but to that of war and battle. The history which bears and determines us has the form of a war rather than that of a language: relations of power not relations of meaning.
Foucault

Physicians’ interest in keeping up can arguably be traced to Hippocrates. Because it is a conditioned response for physicians, their learning radar is sensitive to hearing about the latest development, be it a disease, a drug, or a device—anything they can incorporate into their practices. Physicians do not want to be outdated and thus are vulnerable to a pitch about something new. The pharmaceutical and device industries live off of “something new.” Never mind whether it is an advance or not. As long as industry can make it appear “new,” then industry can have its physician speakers bureau and key opinion leaders tout it. Instinctively, as stated earlier, physician audiences will want to hear about it and can often be swayed to prescribe or purchase the “new” drug or device, all under the CME umbrella. As May said in 1961, “. . . the doctor is made to feel he needs more ‘education’ because of the prolific outpouring of strange brands but not really new drugs, produced for profit rather than to fill an essential purpose; and then the promoter offers to rescue him from confusion by a corresponding brand of ‘education.’” Industry’s CME support leads to the increased use of expensive drugs and devices, many of which are unproven to help patients.

Source