Correspondence

Novel Gifts from Pharmaceutical Companies

N Engl J Med 1993; 328:1426May 13, 1993

Article

To the Editor:

In addition to the traditional types of gifts from pharmaceutical companies recently alluded to in the Journal,1,2 I wish to alert readers to the distribution of unsolicited gifts through the mail. Recently, I received a preprogrammed auto-dialer that will connect me (toll-free) to the “Respiratory Season Hot Line” of a major pharmaceutical company so that I can place my order for samples of antibiotics. Another pharmaceutical concern has sent me a sample of coffee (decaffeinated, at least) to accompany promotional material showing close-up portraits of grateful men in olfactory nirvana greedily sniffing steaming mugs of java. No doubt the subliminal intent is to remind me to prescribe the company's decongestant product as I enjoy my daily brew. A third drug company is so concerned, as its cover letter says, about building a “worthwhile partnership that will benefit both of us” and fulfilling its “obligation to provide a steady flow of clear information about products and activities” that it is sending a free subscription to Time magazine (with a special promotional wrapper) for one year.

Soliciting physicians with gadgets, trinkets, and magazine subscriptions is expensive. The cost is ultimately borne, directly or indirectly, by our patients. Physicians should return unsolicited pharmaceutical packages unopened and cancel any unsolicited magazine subscriptions.

Michael Klein, M.D.
P.O. Box 283, China, ME 04926

2 References

1. 1

   Waud DR. Pharmaceutical promotions -- a free lunch? N Engl J Med 1992;327:351-353
   Full Text | Web of Science | Medline

2. 2

   Waud DR. Pharmaceutical promotions. N Engl J Med 1992;327:1688-1688
   Full Text | Web of Science

Citing Articles (1)

Citing Articles

1. 1

   Daniel Stryer, Lisa A. Bero. (1996) Characteristics of materials distributed by drug companies. Journal of General Internal Medicine 11:10, 575-583
   CrossRef