RT Journal
A1 Baxter J
T1 ARe we providers or physicians?
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2009
FD October 12
VO 169
IS 18
SP 1718
OP 1725
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.349
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.349
AB 
I read with interest the comments made in a recent issue concerning pharmaceutical sales.1 Undue pressure masked as marketing is inappropriate, but physicians must make decisions concerning new agents based on information given to them by pharmaceutical companies, since the initial studies of new agents are sponsored and paid for by the pharmaceutical companies. When pharmaceutical representatives come into my office with their information, studies, and samples, I am aware that they are sponsored by their company. This is akin to watching a commercial for the product.