MA lawmakers mull ban on pharma gifts to doctors

Packaging it as part of a larger healthcare reform bill, a Massachusetts legislator is proposing a measure that would bar pharmaceutical companies from giving gifts and freebies to doctors. Senate President Therese Murray's proposal would forbid the pharmas from giving doctors, as well as their family members or employees, any payments, entertainment, travel, meals, honorariums, subscriptions or even pens marked with drug company logos. It would make an exception for drug samples, as long as those samples were for the exclusive use of patients. Anyone who violated the rule would be fined $5,000 and face two years of prison time. While other states have set some gift limits, or required pharmas to disclose the value of such gifts, Massachusetts would be the first state to ban such gifts entirely. 

To learn more about the proposal:
- read this piece from The Boston Globe

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