To the Point
Does Marketing Interfere with Medicine?
American doctors and teaching hospitals got more than $3.5 billion from drug companies and medical device makers in just five months of last year. Do doctors always prescribe what’s best for their patients—or for their own pocket books? Do they even recognize their own conflicts of interest?
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenAmerican doctors and teaching hospitals got more than $3.5 billion from drug companies and medical device makers in just five months of last year. Payments went not just for medical research, but for promotional speaking, “consulting” and dining out—raising disturbing questions. Do doctors always prescribe what’s best for their patients—or for their own pocket books? Do they even recognize their own conflicts of interest? Doctors themselves are hotly divided. How much do patients really need to know?
Also, an update on the Ebola case, and why has half the world’s wildlife just disappeared?
Banner Image Credit: David Goehring
In this episode
3 storiesEbola Case and American Public Health System
The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States might have had direct or indirect contact with up to 100 people. They’re being “monitored” by public health officials. Nancy Shute, co-host of NPR’s Shots blog , is following that story and the outbreak of the Enterovirus 68.
Read the story7 minThe Patient's Right to Know - About Their Doctor’s Other Relationships
The so-called Sunshine Act, which is part of Obamacare, mandates financial disclosure by drug companies and the makers of medical devices. How much have they paid to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and optometrists; not just for medical research, but for promotional speaking, consulting and dinners out?
Read the story35 minWorld Wildlife Population in Steep Decline
In the past 40 years, some populations of birds, fish, reptiles and mammals have been on the increase. That’s the good news. On the other hand, half the world’s wildlife has disappeared during that same period—and it’s not due to climate change.
Read the story9 min
