Docs go cold turkey on industry pay

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:59:54 -0400

The shape of things to come, or a few anomalies that prove the prevailing trend? A few prominent research doctors are saying "No, thanks," to any payments from drug and device companies. They won't be paid for speaking at meetings or sitting on advisory boards, and any research they do with companies will be pro bono.

The scientists who made this choice--including Dr. Peter Libby, cardiovascular chief at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dr. Eric P. Winer, director of the Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute--did so because they were tired of speaking out about disease and treatments only to have their positions questioned because of their relationships with companies. "It is not worth it to be under suspicion," Libby told The New York Times. "I just said enough is enough," Winer said. "And in truth, it has made my life simpler."

- read the article in the NYT

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