An insider's perspective: defense of the pharmaceutical industry's marketing practices.

A sharply dressed, attractive female walks into the waiting room of an office. All eyes turn and look at this young lady, who looks quite out of place amongst the throngs of elderly, young, and sick patients waiting long periods to see their doctor. This person, carrying meals, gifts, and free drugs, skips the line of patients waiting to be seen and walks right into the back, embracing a friendly handshake with the physician. The patients are all wondering how much longer they will now have to wait because a “drug rep” has walked in just as their appointments are to begin. The patients eventually see their doctor, late because of the drug rep, and are wondering if they have been prescribed a drug that the rep was just promoting to their doctor. These same patients eventually go home and turn on the television in the evening to enjoy sports, the evening news, or a sitcom. The evening news may even be airing a special on the marketing tactics of “big pharma.” Each commercial break is full of ads by drug companies promoting their products . . .