Are Physicians Acting Under Excessive Influence of the Drug Industry?

Doctors and the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Community Discussion

(January 17, 2010 " Thunder Bay, ON) The Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics presents a community dialogue to tackle the issue of what is right and what is wrong in drug company relationships with physicians. Dr Saleem Malik, Section Chair Internal Medicine, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, will present his views on these questions at a seminar Wednesday, January 19, 7:30 p.m., at St. Joseph's Hospital,Conference Room #3, Basement Level. Admission is free and the general public is welcome.

After Dr. Malik's presentation, an interdisciplinary panel will discuss and debate his assertions. Panel members will include a local representative of the pharmaceutical industry, a local pharmacist, a district politician, and a member of the medical profession.

This open event is a venue for the community to enter into thoughtful and informed discussion of healthcare ethical issues that affect our lives. Following the seminar and panel discussion, members of the audience will be invited to express their thoughts and ask questions. This evening of information, discussion, and debate is an invaluable opportunity for all people concerned about their health care.

This is an opportunity to find out if the stories of drug companies treating doctors to lavish holidays as incentive to use their company's medications are true. Citizens can discover whether drug companies have a code of ethics that they use when dealing with physicians.

Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics (CHCE) is dedicated to the study of ethical healthcare in our community. The Centre facilitates scholarly research in ethical issues of healthcare, educates students in ethical issues, and conducts monthly community discussions of practical issues affecting the healthcare of citizens.

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Media: Further information about the Centre for Health Care Ethics and its programs is available at http://bioethics.lakeheadu.ca. For details about the event, contact the Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics at 807-343-8126 or email chce@lakeheadu.ca. Dr. Jerome Harvey is available for media interview.To arrange interview times, please contact Janine Chiasson, Communications Officer, at 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca