Okay, so lemme tell you ’bout my experience with those “drug rep dinners.” You know, the ones where the pharmaceutical companies wine and dine doctors, trying to get them to prescribe their meds?
It all started back when I was fresh out of residency, eager to learn the ropes and, honestly, score a free meal. I mean, who wouldn’t? I got invited to my first one – it was at this fancy Italian joint downtown. I remember thinking, “Wow, this is the life!”
The Setup:
- Showed up a little early, because, free food, right? The rep was already there, super friendly, all smiles.
- Introduced me to some other docs – mostly older guys, seemed pretty comfortable with the whole thing.
- We sat down, ordered drinks (all paid for, of course), and the rep started her pitch.
It wasn’t too heavy-handed at first. Started with some general chit-chat, then slowly transitioned into the benefits of their new drug. Lots of fancy charts and graphs, you know the drill. She emphasized how it was “better tolerated” than the older meds, “fewer side effects,” that kind of thing.
The Food & The Pitch:
Honestly, the food was amazing. I got the lobster ravioli. While we were eating, the rep kept peppering in more details about the drug. Patient testimonials, “real-world” data, all that jazz. She was smooth, I gotta give her that.
I was taking notes, trying to look engaged. But I also noticed something… A lot of the older docs were just nodding along, not really asking questions. Seemed like they were more interested in the free food and the company.
My Takeaways:
After a few of these dinners, I started to get a feel for how they worked. Here’s what I picked up:
- The Reps Know Their Stuff: They’re trained to answer any question you throw at them. They’re also really good at building rapport.
- It’s All About Relationships: The reps try to build a relationship with the doctors so they will be more likely to think of them when they prescribe. They want you to see them as a resource.
- The Information is Skewed: Of course, they only present the positive stuff. They don’t really mention any major downsides or cheaper alternatives. Gotta do your own research, that’s for sure.
- It’s Easy to Get Swayed: Free food, friendly faces, compelling data… it’s designed to influence you, even if you don’t realize it.
The Turning Point
I had a really bad experience where I prescribed a drug based on what I heard at a drug rep dinner, and my patient had a horrible reaction. It made me rethink the whole drug rep thing. I realized that it was my responsibility to do my own research. After that, I stopped attending those dinners. I preferred to get my drug information from unbiased sources like medical journals and trusted colleagues.
My Advice:
If you’re a young doc, or even an experienced one, here’s my two cents on these dinners:
- Go for the food (if you’re allowed), but be skeptical. Don’t just blindly accept everything you hear.
- Do your homework. Read the studies, check the guidelines, and consider all the options.
- Think about your patients first. Don’t let the freebies cloud your judgment.
Ultimately, it’s about providing the best possible care for your patients. And that means being informed, objective, and always putting their needs first. Drug rep dinners can be informative and fun, but they shouldn’t be your only source of information.
That’s my story. Hope it helps!
