Doe, John NY

I worked for four years as a mid-level sales manager with one of the leading medical device manufacturers (U.S.-based). I can tell you from first-hand experience that the practice of paying physicians to participate in studies, provide advice and give lectures. The studies and lectures are legitimate and useful, but the recruitment of these physicians is done with one goal in mind: increased sales and establishing brand loyalty. When a key prescribing physician or key opinion leader physician within a region is successfully recruited for such activities, not only does that physician either begin to practice medicine differently or begin prescribing one brand over another, those who look to him for guidance will do the same. I applaud all efforts to require reporting and monitoring of such activities. Medical device manufacturers claim that innovation will suffer; this is a bogus claim. The profit motive for developing new medical technologies will remain strong.