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Why not Resources |
(KRT) Sex sells. That truism is not so troubling when it comes to businesses such as entertainment or clothing or even cars. But the New York Times reported recently that the drug industry has been hiring cheerleaders as representatives to pitch their products to doctors, a profession still dominated by men. It's disturbing that doctors might make their drug choices based on the sex appeal of sales reps rather than the quality and price of products. A drug-industry executive insisted to the Times that his company hires the pep squad for their personalities, not their looks. Right. Decisions that doctors make about drugs not only can make or break the health of their patients. They also impact the cost of private insurance and huge public-health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. One doctor who serves in the West Virginia Legislature was so concerned about attractive but otherwise uninformed drug sales reps that he tried to get a state law passed that would have required pill peddlers to have science degrees. Legislation is a blunt instrument to deal with this issue. Under federal scrutiny, the drug industry has backed off from another untoward sales tactic -- lavishing vacations and speaking fees on doctors to cinch their product choices. The industry needs to show similar judgment and discretion in hiring sales reps, and start putting competence ahead of comeliness. Doctors should not be making decisions about drugs based on anything other than the best interests of their patients.
___ © 2005, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.). The editorial appeared Dec. 5 in the Sentinel. Visit the Sentinel on the World Wide Web at http://www.orlandosentinel.com. On America Online, use keyword: OSO. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. _____ Have a comment? Please e-mail us.© The Voice 2005 Revised 09/17/2007 01:48:29 PM — http://www.uamont.edu/organizations/thevoice/3_12/krt.htm |
