Slog - Comments on Revealing Update http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update I was jazzed about a bill Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36, Seattle) was shopping last year that would have required drug companies to reveal—on a state database— the gifts they give healthcare providers. The intent was to let patients know that their doctor may not be making objective prescriptions and also to intimidate pharmaceutical companies out of this crass practice. (I actually think a better approach would be to force healthcare providers to disclose the information.) The bill died, but Kohl-Welles promised to bring it back this year. I didn't see it listed this morning when I checked the pre-filed bills... Copyright 2008 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:20:17 -0800 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:48:09 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by herbert browne It is so seldom that Anyone "fills the bill"... we should cheer them on (or go out & look for more herring...)
chow ^..^

]]> herbert browne http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897459 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897459 News Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:06:00 -0800 Comment by Karlheinz Arschbomber Semi-enemy of SLOG(?) Jean Godden should weigh in on this, she had some personal experience in recent times with being steered onto expensive useless medication, when the old cheap generic stuff worked better for her. She was quite vocal, and did not hide her indignation. Was in the local papers.

See:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/sick1.html

]]> Karlheinz Arschbomber http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897471 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897471 News Fri, 11 Jan 2008 23:52:31 -0800 Comment by mouse pad whore to what level of detail must these gifts be disclosed? pads of paper, ballpoint pens, refrigerator magnets? what if we split a sub sandwich and a bag of chips?

]]> mouse pad whore http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897515 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897515 News Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:42:45 -0800 Comment by unPC SO it's big rpogressive reform if we require drug companies bribing doctors to disclose the gift somewhere.

Why not fucking ban the bribery in the first place?

No gifts from drug companies to those in a position to recommend their products.

No gifts from lobbyists to politicians of any nature.

No contributions to any city council member by ANY developer/lawery/realtor for developers likely to have permit or zoning issue before the city or council.

No gifts from lawyers to the judges campaigns.

Blunt, clear simple rules are better.

A ptient is lying in the hhospital bed sick. Twenty doctors come in the room and prescribe a shitload of medicationsl. The patient has no fucking ability to go look up the gifst on a database and ask the doctors, "hey you guys, can I substitute another drug?"

This whole market choice theory of health care is flawed. It is a natural monopoly and everything in it needs "hard" regulation, not "soft," bribery-is-OK-if-on-a-database, regulation.

]]> unPC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897516 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/revealing_update#c897516 News Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:48:09 -0800