-----Mensagem original----- De: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]Em nome de Marta Russell Enviada em: sábado, 2 de junho de 2001 03:44 Para: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com Assunto: medicine conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interest are eroding public trust in medicine. Suspicions are raised about the integrity of Government health care recommendations--are they part of a commercial marketing campaign? The Boston Globe reports that the Government's recommendation about cholesterol-lowering drugs is being viewed with suspicion.
" as doctors and pharmaceutical companies commingle in growing numbers, critics say, it becomes difficult to judge whether these and other recommendations are truly free of industry influence. At least five of the 22 members on the panel of cholesterol specialists who set the guidelines reported receiving funding or grants at some point from companies selling or developing cholesterol-lowering drugs. Some of the key studies in the field were also funded by the companies.
''We just don't know whether or not we are looking at the best route to reducing cholesterol,'' said Sheldon Krimsky, a professor of urban and environmental policy and planning at Tufts University. ''You usually don't hear about industry lobbying unless something goes wrong. But I'm fairly confident that with billions of dollars going to pharmaceutical companies, something was happening behind the scenes.''
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -You´re right Martha, those conflicts are inherent to a market economy. -However, the socialization of medicine by itself will not change too -much, as far as the pharmaceutical industry remains in private hands. -On those workings about cholesterol lowering drugs, I must admit my -ignorance, I will try to get some information on them. Those drugs -are very seldom used in the Brazilian NHS, due to their high costs.
Alexandre