Commercialisation: handle with care

Editor - The commercialisation of medicine now affects students before they become doctors. Typical impoverished medical students welcome "gifts," such as free pens, writing pads, and especially food from drug companies. Their "freebies" have infiltrated all aspects of our lives, from medically practical Snellen charts to household fridge magnets. Drug companies have slowly, and often subconsciously, planted the seeds of fidelity.

Don't get me wrong (as I draft this response with my Pfizer pen): I agree with the authors of last month's article and see no absolute evil in all this.¹ But our conditioning and desensitisation as students will likely persevere into our professional lives. So even as mere medical students, we need to raise our sensitivity towards the issue. We should recognise the nature of these lunches and be clear about the potential benefits and risks.

We must not let commercialisation cloud our objectiveness and damage our profession's reputation. Commercialisation has an immense power that we should handle cautiously throughout our careers.

1. Aitken P, Katona C. Working with the drug industry: is your reputation at risk? studentBMJ 2005;13:158-9. (April.)