r/science • u/FunnyGamer97 • 2d ago

Medicine Most US neurologists prescribing MS drugs have received pharma industry cash | Nearly 80% of US neurologists prescribing drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS) received at least one pharma industry payment, with higher volume prescribers more likely to be beneficiaries, 5 year study finds

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1095648
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u/treehugger100 1d ago

I work in a professional field where accepting lunches/meals like that is considered highly unethical. I’ve never understood why it isn’t considered unethical in healthcare. Also, I’m not going to disagree with you about what you do but it seems highly unlikely, if not impossible, that those meals and reps don’t create bias in prescribing broadly. The companies wouldn’t do it if it didn’t.

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u/thinkbetterofu 1d ago

im glad it strikes you as weird that doctors are literally commenting "yeah we take bribes but its totally fine because im asking REPS FROM THE DRUG COMPANIES ABOUT THE DRUGS AS IF THOSE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT BIASED"

like HELLO?

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u/happyflappypancakes 1d ago

Well the answers are backed up by whatever studies they have performed. Its up to the listener to determine if the evidence is worth it. These are huge trials produce most of the high quality studies that we use in medicine to drive new standards of practice.

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u/babige 1d ago

Sure like all those negative cigarette studies and Teflon studies that were buried by the companies, and the favorable ones shown to the world.

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u/happyflappypancakes 1d ago

Well the quality is there in the study. You just have to look. You can usually tell if one is dubious.

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u/treehugger100 1d ago

And yet many in this thread are basically saying they don’t have time to read the studies and get the information they need from the company reps.

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u/son_et_lumiere 1d ago

What the reps can and cannot say is highly regulated.

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u/treehugger100 1d ago

And regulations are always followed I’m sure.

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u/son_et_lumiere 1d ago

They are because they're heavily fined if not. There are legal teams at these pharma companies who are very adamant and particular about following the letter of the law. Any promotional material has to go through FDA review and approval. And there will be random checks at events by FDA folks.