Medical Centers should follow Stanford's lead in banning gifts from drug companies

Stanford University Medical Center's decision to prohibit physicians from accepting any gifts from pharmaceutical sales representatives is "an austere measure that other medical centers should follow," a Los Angeles Times editorial states.

According to the Times, studies have shown that even small gifts can influence a physician's decision to prescribe a certain drug.

Therefore, "physicians, who control patients' lives with their decisions, must be held to the highest ethical standards possible to ensure that those decisions are based on the best empirical knowledge," the editorial states, adding that patients "shouldn't have to worry that the drug was selected because of a pharmaceutical company's marketing skills."

In addition, Stanford's decision shows that "voluntary drug industry guidelines aren't working," according to the editorial, which notes that "companies continue to spend millions flying physicians to winter conferences in Hawaii and throwing lavish parties."

The editorial concludes that even though imposing the ban will cost Stanford millions of dollars, "when it comes to patient safety and the fundamental importance of trusting your doctor for impartial information, it's money well spent" (Los Angeles Times, 9/16).