When I began my practice following residency I became aware of the cesspool that medical and associated profession have become. Each day was (is) a learning experience. Not that one is completely unaware of the ground realities- but first hand experience is humbling.
I was reading a blog post by Jim Sabin wherein he comments on an article on “Drug promotional practices in Mumbai: a qualitative study” in the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics (April-June 2007 issue) and surmises
All of the issues described in Mumbai are present in the U.S., but in India the pharmaceutical practices are more brazen. Federal and state regulatory capacity is significantly less in India than in the U.S. Perhaps more important, organizations – medical schools, hospitals, medical societies, and more – currently have less capacity to push back against commercial forces than comparable institutions in the U.S.But the Indian media is sinking its teeth into the issue of commercial corruption of medical decision making (see, for example, “Are your drugs boosting your doctor’s lifestyle?” in yesterday’s Times of India here). The same ethical drama is playing out globally, just with different timing.
the ground reality and the extent is so so much worse that it is mind boggling. and to be frank the medics/doctors are ending up being bit players.
Pic from offside.com
(image from the Denver Post)