So here at UASOM we're doing this integrated curriculum where you are supposed to learn basic science and its clinical applications at the same time. Basically, what this means is that our classes are condensed into this summer school-like format that make things more interesting, but much more intense.

So yesterday we had this ethics session about Big Pharm (pharmaceutical companies making tons of money off selling brand-name drugs). There are some crazy things going on with which drugs and doctors. The stink is that supposedly Pharm reps are giving doctors all these gifts like free lunches, free trips to tropical locations to hear a plug for their product, and free samples, pens, pads, etc. and these gifts influence doctors to prescribe their medication and not the cheaper generic stuff. (By the way none of this is new, its been going on for a long time, but the marketing of drug companies is increasing drastically in recent years.) There are stats that, in essence, prove that this marketing strategy works too. So what's the solution for me? Should I not welcome drug reps for fear that I might start prescribing the more expensive medication to get a cruise compliments of Pfizer? Or should I take the cruise and not show up the meetings and stick it to 'em by taking their money and not listening to their spiel? Meg wouldn't go for that.

For me this raises bigger questions about the medical field like should it be a business or a service-oriented profession? I definitely think that helping people is a higher calling than making good money, but how do I parse out all the conflicting interests that will inevitably come my way like taking less pay to help needy people, providing for my (future and present) family, taking a seemingly harmless trip on the bill of a pharmaceutical company, etc.? Should patients simply trust that their doctor is looking out for their best interests? Probably not. There's a lot of greedy, dishonest people out there. It is interesting to me how many of our daily interactions, even something as serious as our health, still dependent on blind trust of other people. I guess this is reason for getting to know your doctor, pastor, mechanic better and for learning things on our own.