Yeah, after the I made the video, I wished I had talked about a system that seems to be built for prescriptions, and how the more drugs we have, the fewer doctors we need, and then the fewer doctors we have, the more drugs we need. And if I don't have experience, I can't find a job, and if I don't have a job, I can't get experience... I rushed it without fully fleshing it out. I'm too busy for quality. I of course also failed to mention the positive impact that drugs have. Which is of course, considerable.

As for the free sample thing, I actually mentioned to Andy when we were making it that I am glad that doctors get the free samples, because after my heart went apeshit, they gave me a pill to take home, instead of a prescription. Why I brought it up, is that if doctors are giving out these samples, there's more of a chance that those particular drugs will be prescribed later, because they have experience with them. It's not so much bribing the doctors, as it is bribing the health system.

And advertising birth control pills is the worst, because it makes taking them "cool", and any teenage girl who goes on the pill will be "mature" and "unique" and "respected by men". This is over and above what other drug advertising does.

to give an example of the bribery/infiltration of drug companies over common sense, one could say, ... Par's comments made me remember a doctor at the Campus Health Centre. I think I went in for a head cold or something, but it was VERY OBVIOUS that he was going to push birth control on any woman that walked in there. He had posters for five different birth control pill brands, those circular cycle/pregnancy calendar thingies, something else really blatantly "buy our birth control pill" like a diorama or some such thing and *marvelon brand stirrup covers. That entire office/exam room screamed "YOU SHOULD BE ON THE PILL" and I think he even asked me... despite ... oh! right, I went in because my knee was killing me. So... go in for some help with persistent joint pain and get the "are you sexually active? are you on any form of birth control?" talk.

it may seem odd, but I always feel strange when male doctors push the pill on me. and I typically get my back up when any doctor pushes drugs at me.

well done again boys andy and lisac!
Although I did want to see more Rick Mercer vision

Really? There's nothing about lazy IT dorks in it...

It's on Youtube. Lazy IT dorks are implied.

Seriously, how do you feel about the pharmaceutical aspect of your career? I didn't actually consult any doctor types about this...

Before I answer this, I have a minor quibble about your video. Yes, doctors get free samples of prescription drugs, but it's rarely the doctor that is taking advantage of that service. The free sample most often ends up in the hands of a patient (at least, from what I've seen.)

As for the systematic bribery aspect of medicine, I have to say first of all that I don't know what impact it has on practices. From what I've seen, prescription choices in the office are based at least as much on what the patient's drug plan will pay for. Other factors (e.g. the first-line beta blocker that my preceptor tries with patients is the once-a-day pill, purely because it's easier to stay with a pill that's once-a-day than twice-a-day) play a role as well.

That said, there's definitely an impact on prescribing even when you aren't the direct beneficiary of the "benefits." A drug I've had to read up about this weekend is Spiriva, which has become a first-line choice in the treatment of mild-to-moderate COPD. One wonders how many pulmonologists got trips from Pfizer before that happened.

It must have a direct impact as well, though, otherwise these companies wouldn't be doing it -- they're not about to throw money at doctors if there's no return. From my own short experience so far, I know my preceptor has stopped any visits from drug reps to his office, but he is a sadly uncommon model of that kind of integrity.

That's the short version. (The long version goes into my problems systemically with how our health care system creates incentives for certain styles of practice, and pushes doctors who want to make a living to easier, less counselling-intensive solutions to medical problems. It's a rant that keeps building as time goes on.) I haven't really thought about it much, but I'm sure I'll have to make some decisions about my own approach to drug reps sooner or later.

know what's annoying?

when you invite people over, go through the effort of tidying the place up, and baking cookies, and NOBODY comes. I am unimpressed.

that is AWESOME, Matt!

the, uh, astronaut in space thing was a little odd, but otherwise, I totally love it.



What I find most entertaining are the "related" youtube videos that come up afterwards: Steve Greer... Convicted Child Sex Offender, LTTE Terror Activities in Norway, How Heroin & Drugs get to the USA and UK, How Bingeing put your life at the danger of obesity, Quality Stocks Daily, and Iran News.

now, admittedly, I don't know what keywords you tagged your video with, but still... drugs, sex offenders, terrorism, obesity, Iran, and the stock market??

Really? There's nothing about lazy IT dorks in it...

Seriously, how do you feel about the pharmaceutical aspect of your career? I didn't actually consult any doctor types about this...

For some reason, that video really speaks to me.

Hey everybooty,
So I decided to enter the CBC contest, "Canada's Next Great Prime Minister." You have to make a 5 minute video, explaining your one great idea that will make the country better. Andy was gracious enough to lend his cinematographic skills. WHATTAGUY! Anyway, it'd be great if you watched it, and maybe even sent it along to a friend. Unless you think I'm an idiot, in which case, ok.

You can see it here...

Or, right here.

okay... sorry I'm slow...

9:30 it is! I'm going to be at the Garneau around 9:15 to get a ticket and stand in line. Hope to see a couple of you there!