Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers
Authors: Marc B. Garnick, Wendy Balter
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

Letters17 February 2015Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert LecturersMarc B. Garnick, MD and Wendy Balter, MBAMarc B. Garnick, MDFrom Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and Phase Five Communications, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this author and Wendy Balter, MBAFrom Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and Phase Five Communications, New York, New York.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L15-5052 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Avorn's commentary (1) mentions GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK's) retreat from support of physician lecture programs. We find the drug company's actions lamentable, particularly at a time when the introduction of novel pharmaceuticals with complex mechanisms of action and clinicians' desire for education have never been greater.In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 41 new drugs, many of them completely novel. Commercially supported physician lectures answer an urgent need for high-quality information about new drugs from experienced peers. The content of these programs is rigorous and satisfies the FDA's stringent requirements for accuracy, objectivity, fair balance, ...References1. Avorn J. Rethinking the use of physicians as hired expert lecturers. Ann Intern Med. 2014;161:363-4. [PMID: 25178570] doi:10.7326/M14-0847 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Office of Inspector General's compliance program guidance for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Fed Regist. 2003;68:23731-42. Accessed at https://oig.hhs.gov/authorities/docs/03/050503FRCPGPharmac.pdf on 3 September 2014. Google Scholar3. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Washington, DC: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; 2008. Accessed at www.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/phrma_marketing_code_2008.pdf on 4 September 2014. Google Scholar4. KRC Research. Survey of Physicians about Pharmaceutical and Biotech Research Company Activities and Information. (Commissioned by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.) Washington, DC: KRC Research; 2011. Accessed at www.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/krcsurveyofphysicians_1.pdf on 4 September 2014. Google Scholar5. Manhattan Research. Trends and the Future: Physicians and Patients in a Connected World. New York: Manhattan Research; 2013. Accessed at ehealthcaresolutions.com/summit/presentations/mressi_2013.pptx on 5 September 2014. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and Phase Five Communications, New York, New York.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L14-0570. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Jerry Avorn Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Jerry Avorn Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Kaenat Mulla , Adebusola Shonubi , and Dev Katarey Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Abrar Khan Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Jerry Avorn Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Abrar Khan Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Kaenat Mulla , Adebusola Shonubi , and Dev Katarey Rethinking the Use of Physicians as Hired Expert Lecturers Jerry Avorn Metrics 17 February 2015Volume 162, Issue 4Page: 320-321KeywordsDisclosureDrug informationDrugsFearHealth careHealth services researchMedical educationPatientsSafety ePublished: 17 February 2015 Issue Published: 17 February 2015 CopyrightCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...