Re: Fw: The Glasgow Herald

[Guest guest]

Flip it. Sue them for giving it.

[Norton AntiSpam] Fw: The Glasgow Herald

Doctors required to reveal links with drug firms

BILLY BRIGGS

February 13 2006

Doctors and consultants face having to register publicly any links with drug companies.The unprecedented move follows concern that multi-million-pound firms wield too much influence over the doctors.This register of interests, which would be the first in Britain, could enable patients to find out whether their doctor has been treated to lunch or a corporate hospitality event, attended a conference at a company's expense or been paid to give a lecture on a certain product.Politicians called for the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry to be more transparent after The Herald last summer highlighted the case of a child who died after being prescribed high doses of a steroid called fluticasone, used in the treatment of asthma.NHS Greater Glasgow is consulting on the issue and has been negotiating with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Scotland. The health board wants the register to be available to the public by June. The ish Executive said it could be rolled out across the country.A health board spokesman said: "We are anticipating by the second quarter of this year to be in a position of moving towards the implementation of a pan-Glasgow policy. It is part of our policy to be open and transparent."Officials said details were still being finalised but confirmed the register would apply to all NHS medical staff, including consultants. Although GPs are independent contractors, NHS Greater Glasgow said it was moving towards eventually including them on the register.Carolyn Leckie, health spokeswoman for the ish Socialist Party, backed the move and said she hoped other health boards would also introduce registers. "I hope it will be part of contractual agreements with staff, and not on a voluntary basis."Last year there were claims that hundreds of asthmatic children could be in danger from excessive dosages of an inhaled steroid because of the way Europe's largest drug company was promoting vital treatments to doctors.Dr Geoff Todd, a consultant chest physician, expressed his concerns after a sheriff published a damning report which said the failure of medics to recognise the risks of fluticasone was instrumental in the death of five-year-old Emma Frame. She died at Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire, after being prescribed by her GP up to five times the licensed dose of fluticasone, marketed by GlaxoKline (GSK) as the safest available treatment. The fatal accident inquiry highlighted the close relationship between some doctors and drug companies.Dr Todd, who gave evidence at the inquiry, said doctors were being misinformed about the drug, which was promoted with strong safety messages and images of teddy bears.Sheriff Carol criticised Emma's GP and respiratory specialists from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, Glasgow, and blamed GSK for contributing to the medical profession's "complacency" about the drug's safety.GSK said it had followed all advertising and ethical guidelines in its promotion and that the safety profile of fluticasone within licensed doses was well established. Frame, Emma's father, welcomed the register move by NHS Greater Glasgow. "I hope that it is successful and quickly adopted by other health boards." A British Medical Journal survey has found GPs who saw drug firm reps at least once a week were more likely to prescribe drugs that were not needed.

[Guest guest]

Sometimes I wonder if it isn't just the pay offs with drug companies that keeps docs ill informed but the fact that they are spoon fed what they should prescribe for what condition etc, by their associations.( who are turn in the pockets of drug cos, governments etc) They are in a bind as if they prescribe something other than the 'party line treatment de jour' then they are risk of being sued.

I was told as much last week when talking to a doc, who inferred she believed in the vaccine connection but was unable to do anything than to offer the jabs otherwise she was open to being sued.

This is a crazy situation.

Ange.

[Norton AntiSpam] Fw: The Glasgow Herald

Doctors required to reveal links with drug firms

BILLY BRIGGS

February 13 2006

Doctors and consultants face having to register publicly any links with drug companies.The unprecedented move follows concern that multi-million-pound firms wield too much influence over the doctors.This register of interests, which would be the first in Britain, could enable patients to find out whether their doctor has been treated to lunch or a corporate hospitality event, attended a conference at a company's expense or been paid to give a lecture on a certain product.Politicians called for the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry to be more transparent after The Herald last summer highlighted the case of a child who died after being prescribed high doses of a steroid called fluticasone, used in the treatment of asthma.NHS Greater Glasgow is consulting on the issue and has been negotiating with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Scotland. The health board wants the register to be available to the public by June. The ish Executive said it could be rolled out across the country.A health board spokesman said: "We are anticipating by the second quarter of this year to be in a position of moving towards the implementation of a pan-Glasgow policy. It is part of our policy to be open and transparent."Officials said details were still being finalised but confirmed the register would apply to all NHS medical staff, including consultants. Although GPs are independent contractors, NHS Greater Glasgow said it was moving towards eventually including them on the register.Carolyn Leckie, health spokeswoman for the ish Socialist Party, backed the move and said she hoped other health boards would also introduce registers. "I hope it will be part of contractual agreements with staff, and not on a voluntary basis."Last year there were claims that hundreds of asthmatic children could be in danger from excessive dosages of an inhaled steroid because of the way Europe's largest drug company was promoting vital treatments to doctors.Dr Geoff Todd, a consultant chest physician, expressed his concerns after a sheriff published a damning report which said the failure of medics to recognise the risks of fluticasone was instrumental in the death of five-year-old Emma Frame. She died at Wishaw General Hospital in Lanarkshire, after being prescribed by her GP up to five times the licensed dose of fluticasone, marketed by GlaxoKline (GSK) as the safest available treatment. The fatal accident inquiry highlighted the close relationship between some doctors and drug companies.Dr Todd, who gave evidence at the inquiry, said doctors were being misinformed about the drug, which was promoted with strong safety messages and images of teddy bears.Sheriff Carol criticised Emma's GP and respiratory specialists from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, Glasgow, and blamed GSK for contributing to the medical profession's "complacency" about the drug's safety.GSK said it had followed all advertising and ethical guidelines in its promotion and that the safety profile of fluticasone within licensed doses was well established. Frame, Emma's father, welcomed the register move by NHS Greater Glasgow. "I hope that it is successful and quickly adopted by other health boards." A British Medical Journal survey has found GPs who saw drug firm reps at least once a week were more likely to prescribe drugs that were not needed.