These days I see far fewer representatives. The rules about giving samples and lunches and other perks to doctors have gotten much more stringent. Overall, I agree that there has to be rules and the changes have been good changes. Maybe I’m naive, but I’d like to think doctors don’t make decisions about medications or devices based on a nice dinner. But reading the literature, it’s pretty clear that I’ve been naive…

I believe that most representatives have something valuable to show me and perhaps teach me. I like the quick synopsis they present, and I read the articles they hand me, albeit with a skeptical eye. Doctors have a responsibility to filter any information presented to them to avoid commercial bias. That’s true whether reading a journal article, listening to a grand rounds lecture, or giving 5 minutes of your valuable time to the rep who bothered to drive an hour and then sit in your waiting room for another hour to have that 5 minutes with you. It’s the least we can do to be civil towards them. I do miss the scratch pads, however!