In Kentucky and throughout the south, pharmaceutical prices force many to choose between medicines and food. The situation for many elderly is at a crisis point.

Then comes along a study, such as this one in the Journal of the American Medical Association, where medical students were found to receive at least one gift or attend at least one activity sponsored by a pharmaceutical company every week! Many medical residents consider these gifts inappropriate but accept them anyhow. And in case you didn't figure it out, the study points out that this frequent interaction between medical students and pharmaceutical representatives increases the likelihood that physicians will prescribe the sponsor's products, regardless of price differences.

Nathan D. Wilson