SENATE PRESIDENT Therese Murray's proposed ban on all gifts from drug companies to doctors is the quintessential political fix to a complex problem ("Ban on gifts to doctors sought," City & Region, March 4). My wife is a primary care doctor. She and nearly every physician we know who is not an employee of a large health organization has been to a drug company-sponsored dinner and received pens and office supplies. However, to imply that doctors who have invested years and tens of thousands of dollars in their profession can be bought with a dinner or a package of Post-its is beneath contempt. And to suggest that this initiative will somehow begin to put healthcare back on a sound financial footing is absurd.
Murray may want to question why so few doctors are going into primary care. Why are doctors leaving this state? While nurse practitioners (my wife was one before medical school) are a valuable asset in healthcare delivery, how many elected officials see a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor? The Murray proposal is political window dressing. Political insiders may protest physicians obtaining freebies, but they love those big contributions and dinner events thrown for them by the same drug companies and their lobbyists.
LAWRENCE MINTZER
Newton
THE BILL introduced in the Legislature last week seeks to ban even the smallest promotional product from being given to doctors by pharmaceutical companies.
Does the state Senate really think a pen with a drug name on it will change a doctor's prescription habits and sway him or her to use a drug that is not appropriate? Does the Senate have such little faith in the professionalism and intelligence of the medical community?
Over the last 15 years, children have been exposed to an ever-increasing barrage of television advertising of drugs, and the cost of these ads is in the billions. The subtle, yet potent, message delivered to our youth is that "drugs are good for you." Tinkerbell-like characters fly, green critters impersonate mucus. It was not long ago that lawmakers banned Joe Camel.
Let the pharmaceutical companies market their brands to their customers as any other business would.
Focus on the paradigm shift in the industry that suggests that the patient play the role of doctor and "prescribe" the drug for themselves.
There is a lot more that the Massachusetts Senate can do than keep a branded coffee mug off a doctor's desk.
JOEL D. SCHAFFER
Chief executive
Soundline LLC
Randolph, N.J.
The writer is a former member of the board of the Promotional Products Association International in Irving, Texas, and Soundline is a member of this trade group.
