| Pharmaceutical companies have inside data of | | | | specific drugs, many of which are no more |
| virtually every doctor in the United States. | | | | effective than much-cheaper alternatives." |
| This data records every prescription signed | | | | The recent controversy has also caused new |
| by every doctor, letting big pharma know | | | | bills in more than a dozen states trying to |
| which doctors are prescribing the latest and | | | | protect their citizens from the rising cost |
| most expensive drugs on the market. To put it | | | | of healthcare brought upon by big pharma. AMA |
| in door to door salesman lingo, it's a list | | | | believes that they have helped through |
| of every sucker in the neighborhood. Where do | | | | "evidence-based medical research, structuring |
| pharma companies acquire this information? | | | | clinical trials, efficient drug recalls, |
| From the American Medical Association. Dr. | | | | aiding the Food and Drug Administration's |
| John Santa, an internist at the Portland | | | | ongoing post-approval assessment of drug |
| Veterans Affairs Medical Center and | | | | benefits versus risks, and many other uses." |
| consultant to the Prescription Project and is | | | | But there is still no explanation as to why |
| also a part of a coalition trying to curb | | | | they need to provide doctors providing habits |
| drug companies' access to doctor prescribing | | | | to big pharma. Several of the new bills being |
| information said, "Doctors are not aware that | | | | passed have allowed doctors to decide whether |
| companies are out there that know every | | | | the information gathered from their |
| prescription a doctor prescribes. Consumers | | | | prescribing habits can be used to make or |
| should care because here's this very | | | | promote drugs. Click here for more |
| effective information and data system that is | | | | information on ordering from discount online |
| not being used to improve quality or safety | | | | prescriptions. |
| of their care but to increase the sales of | | | | |