Survey of Medical Schools Is Critical of Perks

Courtesy of the NY Times

Most medical schools in the United States fail to police adequately the money, gifts and free drug samples that pharmaceutical companies routinely shower on doctors and trainees, according to a ranking by the American Medical Student Association. Only 7 of the 150 medical schools included in the rankings received a grade of A while 14 were given a B. Sixty got a failing grade, and the student association found that 28 schools, or nearly one in five, were in the midst of revising their conflict-of-interest policies. “These policies are incredibly important to protect the educational experience students have at school and the quality of the education they’re getting,” said Dr. Brian Hurley, president of the student association. Schools that shield students from marketing messages will produce doctors who provide better care to patients, Dr. Hurley said. "Attention to how students evaluate policies in fields that are of substantial importance to the future of the students.”

Steve - this should not be a surprise to anybody. It is no different than shoe companies wooing junior high school basketball players. Big Pharma wants to ingratiate itself with the up and coming medical talent.