This was just figured out?

I worked for a deli and catering service as a delivery man for a few months following September 11th (strictly by coincidence, my first day was 9/12/01), and I personally delivered plenty of food for Big Pharma reps in hospitals, clinics, etc. I even ran into an old high school classmate of mine, who was a rep for some drug company (as I'm not much for pharmaceuticals - I don't even like taking aspirin - I didn't bother asking which one).

This is nothing new.

I personally feel that what is worse than this is the advertising of pills directly to the consumer. I agree with a comment I once heard from Bill Maher - paraphrasing here - "When you are going to the doctor and telling him what drugs you need, the doctor isn't a trained professional, he's a glorified drug dealer."

Doctors are supposed to tell you what you need - not the other way around.

-R.