On the PharmaGossip blog, there have been several recent posts about who now gets to be a pharmaceutical representative. This post is about a representative for an unnamed pharmaceutical company who is now appearing on the Big Brother television show. Her bio for the show features this self-description, "confident, agile and sexy." Two posts (here and here) are about "Playboy model" Cameron Haven, alleged to be a representative for Sanofi-Aventis. (Note: the links in these PharmaGossip posts are too explicit to open at work, or in the presence of children.)
Pharmaceutical marketers repeatedly argue that their main goal is physician education, so maybe they could argue that now they have teamed with mainstream media to increase the impact of anatomy education. Perhaps, though, if pharmaceutical companies really want to regain the reputation they once had, they ought to rethink sending Playboy models to "educate" physicians.
I follow the medblogs for the writing. Yep, that is my story and I am sticking with it.
ReplyDeleteSteve Lucas
This post brings up some interesting points about the profession of true medical education.
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the U.S., medical educators elsewhere affiliated with medical corporations typically have some sort of notabe and thorough knowledge related to the products they promote and the complexity associated with thier vocations.
In our system, medical corporations typically pick those they emphasize the most, which is those individuals who display looks and personality, which are in no way related to thier purpose or desire to medically educate. In fact, it seems apathy is preferred with medical reps by many medical corporations. in the U.S. instead of education As if this were to occur, embellishments would decrease substantially along with the emphasis on prosperity, which would inhibit these reps from compromising thier integrity. God forbid a U.S. Med rep. introspect in regards to thier valuable vocation, along with the ethics and honesty that should blend with thier vocation as a med. rep.5