Megan’s Mom, you can’t argue with someone like Ball. He’ll always come back with some crazy fact that might be true but doesn’t prove his point. For example, he thinks that because Drug companies make a ton of money, doctors (who don’t own drug companies) will be swayed by advertizing to push drugs. So in other words, he thinks doctors are stupid and instead of going to continuing education, they go eat dinner with drug sales people. He’s totally paranoid and has nothing better to do than bang his head against the wall at this site day in and day out. Kind of sad. He’s just going to have his own misguided beliefs no matter what because he has issues. If he wasn’t so abusive, I might feel worry for him.
Re: Ball
You do know, don’t you, that doctors do eat dinner with pharm. reps. It is a well established practice, and the physicians get samples as well. This isn’t to say physicians have no brains but pharm. types do try to influence their practices (I teach health care administration and one of my students, a pharm. rep, shared with me a training program he attended.) Pharmacy reps efforts, however, generally focus on getting physicians to prescribe their drug instead of a competitors rather than to prescribe a drug at all.
I have to say personally that I had the impression from all I had read that all I had to do was show up in my pediatricians office with appropriate documentation to get a trial of medication. I was surprised to be sent to a neurologist. So sometimes the hype is different than the reality too.
Ball has some good points and represents a legitimate point of view. Style though often gets substance.
Beth
Re: Ball
I can read the same counterpoints Ball makes from a much more constructive and nonoffensive source. I do not take issue with his right to express his views however, I find his commentary offensive and rude. I choose not to read his posts and encourage others to do the same. There are people on this site who share his view but do so in a humane and mature manner.
I just don’t even read his posts anymore. In this case, the best response is no response.