Is limiting industry gifts a smart policy?

Yesterday, we reported that Stanford University Medical Center has instated a policy prohibiting its physicians from receiving pharma and medical device industry gifts. Officials say it will prevent the industry from having any undue influence over doctors. But one FierceHealthcare reader objects to this line of thinking. "In a perfect world the policy made sense, but in the real world, this is another policy that some bio-ethicist who has nothing better to do dreamt up in his office," notes Mike Wei, M.D. He feels that by limiting the money the industry spends on physicians, everyone loses. It's clear from Dr. Wei's comments that for some doctors, policies such as Stanford's have negatively impacted their ability to learn about new drugs, devices and procedures. Is completely limiting industry involvement too drastic a policy? E-mail me with your thoughts.

To check out Dr. Wei's comments:
- read this letter

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