Doctors in Denial
Why Big Pharma and the Canadian medical professionals are too close for comfort

Date Written:  2017-04-28
Publisher:  James Lorimer & Company Ltd.
Year Published:  2017
Resource Type:  Book
Cx Number:  CX21720

A look into the disturbing relationships between medical doctors and Big Pharma, which has influenced what medical students learn and the interactions doctors have with their patients.

Abstract: 
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Publisher's description:

Doctors in Denial examines the relationship between the Canadian medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry, and explains how doctors have become dependents of the drug companies instead of champions of patients' health. Big Pharma plays a role in every aspect of doctors' work. These giant, wealthy multinationals influence how medical students are trained and receive information, how research is done in hospitals and universities, what is published in leading medical journals, what drugs are approved, and what patients expect when they go into their doctors' offices. But almost all doctors deny the influence and control the drug companies exert. In this book Dr. Lexchin urges the medical profession to make the changes needed to give priority to protecting and promoting patients' health and benefitting society, rather than enabling Big Pharma to dominate health care while raking in billions in profits from citizens and governments.

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Tables, Figures and Boxes
Abbreviations
Foreword by Dr. Brian Goldman of CBC Radio's White Coat, Black Art

Introduction: Doctors in denial: welcome to the comfort zone

Chapter 1: Medicine and industry: a marriage of convenience or a marriage made in heaven?

Chapter 2: Government, industry and the medical profession: ménage à trois

Chapter 3: Medical journals— advertisements, money, regulation, rebellion and possibly retrenchment

Chapter 4: Academic health science centres: research, money, controversies, conflict of interest and independence

Chapter 5: Key opinion leaders, clinical practice guidelines and medical societies: getting the message out

Chapter 6: Guidelines on relationships between industry and the medical profession: a guide to salvation?

Chapter 7: Medical students and physicians-in-training (residents): get them while they are young

Chapter 8: Doctors, sales representatives, samples, gifts, trips and dinners

Chapter 9: Don't worry, be happy?

Chapter 10: Reforming the comfort zone so that doctors are no longer in denial

Acknowledgements
References
Index