Tuesday, April 26, 2011

How academic physicians turn into drug company shills, KevinMD.com

by Carl Elliott

These days many thought leaders find themselves on shaky ground. The past few years have not been good for business. Some of the most prominent thought leaders have been exposed and censured by Grassley. Others have seen public opinion turning against them and gone underground. As more states institute Sunshine laws, anyone considering an industry consultancy must weigh the money and status boost against the potential downside of public exposure.

Still, the thought-leader business has proved more resilient than many people predicted. Most of the thought leaders investigated by Grassley have managed to retain their academic positions, even in the face of withering criticism. A resistance movement has even formed. Led by Dr. Thomas Stossel of Harvard University, the Association of Clinical Researchers and Educators (ACRE) has defiantly opposed attempts to cut back industry payments to doctors.

Many former thought leaders simply confess disillusionment. “There is a feeling that you want to be where the action is, and even if it’s not real action, at least industry gives you the feeling that things are happening,” Healy says. “They give you the feeling that you’re up on the wave.” After a while, however, the thrill of consulting begins to wear thin. There are just too many airports, too many hotels, too many fancy dinners. Eventually they all look the same. Healy says, “You’ve got a choice between the boredoms of perpetually surfing—where the first two waves are fun, but eight hours later, Jesus Christ—or do you return to the tedium of the beach?”

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