Rather than taking this thread off topic, I have started a new thread in response to the claim crc_error has made below.
Here are three examples of companies fined by Medicines Australia for such events...
1) GlaxoSmithKline Australia received $210,000 in fines for two doctors' conferences at luxury hotels on Sydney's Darling Harbour. One conference called the "Gold GP diabetes forum" cost $102,970, with almost 90% of that spent on hospitality for the 79 doctors attending. Medicines Australia found "less than five hours of actual education was provided" and GSKA guilty of bringing discredit to the industry.
2) A two-day conference at the Sofitel on the Gold Coast for 36 registrars that cost almost $70,000 and included only 5½ hours of education, which earned drug company Nycomed a $60,000 fine.
3) A two-day physicians' clinical meeting in Quay West Resort Bunker Bay in WA comprising of five hours and 45 minutes of education, resulting in a $60,000 fine for Servier Laboratories.
You claim that "doctors regularly get kickback from drug companies". Can you give any examples of this? I am sure Medicines Australia would like to know.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/drug-companies-fined-record-18m-20080725-3l3c.html
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Perhaps you should do the research. Your reference does not even mention the word "kickbacks"; it refers to pharmaceutical companies "paying for doctors travel, accomodation and other promotional benefits". Sponsorship by pharmacutical companies is very common but companies have to be careful. You reference was from 2003... there is a new code of conduct to uphold, which you can see on the Medicines Australia link.Do you kick up a fuss then a doctor gets a commission for prescribing drugs to his patients?Off topic, but this is a serious breach of ethics; I would be seriously concerned about taking any medication, for which the prescriber had been given any commission... Bad example.Well then you better do some research in the medical industry. doctors regularly get kickback from drug companies including if they prescribe certain dollar amounts etc..
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7426/1248-a
Here are three examples of companies fined by Medicines Australia for such events...
1) GlaxoSmithKline Australia received $210,000 in fines for two doctors' conferences at luxury hotels on Sydney's Darling Harbour. One conference called the "Gold GP diabetes forum" cost $102,970, with almost 90% of that spent on hospitality for the 79 doctors attending. Medicines Australia found "less than five hours of actual education was provided" and GSKA guilty of bringing discredit to the industry.
2) A two-day conference at the Sofitel on the Gold Coast for 36 registrars that cost almost $70,000 and included only 5½ hours of education, which earned drug company Nycomed a $60,000 fine.
3) A two-day physicians' clinical meeting in Quay West Resort Bunker Bay in WA comprising of five hours and 45 minutes of education, resulting in a $60,000 fine for Servier Laboratories.
You claim that "doctors regularly get kickback from drug companies". Can you give any examples of this? I am sure Medicines Australia would like to know.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/drug-companies-fined-record-18m-20080725-3l3c.html
.