Why preclude meals? Do they really affect patient care decisions?
A. Research has shown that even di mimimus gifts, such as pens, engender a sense of obligation on the part of the recipient. Moreover, research has shown that in cases where a doctor has a pen or pad advertising a particular product, that product gets prescribed more often (AMA Guidelines Regarding Industry Interactions; Drug Makers Pay for Lunch as They Pitch, New York Times, July 28, 2006). Thus it has been shown that such gifts, including meals provided by Pharma, can influence the decision-making process. Our goal is to provide our patients with the best, most objective care. This is why we have chosen to eliminate such incentives.
