NEWS
Maslon Attorney David Schultz Serves as Panelist for the 28th Minnesota Health Care Roundtable and Offers Commentary to Saint Paul Pioneer Press
November 20, 2007
Maslon Attorney David Schultz served as a panelist for the 28th Minnesota Health Care Roundtable, a biannual conference on health care policy held November 8, 2007. The topic was "Doctors and Drug Companies: Is medical advice for sale?"
Key to the event was a discussion regarding the Minnesota law which requires transparency from pharmaceutical companies, but not other interested parties such as medical device manufacturers, health plans and others with financial interests in the health care products selected by physicians. Schultz was interviewed on the topic following the meeting for an article titled "A World of Difference," which appeared in the November 19, 2007 edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
In the article, Schultz noted that device product approvals by the government often include a requirement that companies provide training and educating for physicians on how to use device products. That education, explained Schultz, often is provided by physicians who have helped develop the technology, and they must be compensated for the time they spend teaching. He told the reporter that he thought it was "ambiguous" whether reports about payments to particular physicians - either by drug or device companies - served the public good.
"What's underneath all of this concern is the question: Is my doctor acting in my best interest, or does he or she have a self-interest?" Schultz added. "My view on this stuff is, if you don't trust your doctor to begin with...then you probably need a different doctor."
To view the full Saint Paul Pioneer Press article, go to: http://www.twincities.com/ and search for "A World of Difference."
Key to the event was a discussion regarding the Minnesota law which requires transparency from pharmaceutical companies, but not other interested parties such as medical device manufacturers, health plans and others with financial interests in the health care products selected by physicians. Schultz was interviewed on the topic following the meeting for an article titled "A World of Difference," which appeared in the November 19, 2007 edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
In the article, Schultz noted that device product approvals by the government often include a requirement that companies provide training and educating for physicians on how to use device products. That education, explained Schultz, often is provided by physicians who have helped develop the technology, and they must be compensated for the time they spend teaching. He told the reporter that he thought it was "ambiguous" whether reports about payments to particular physicians - either by drug or device companies - served the public good.
"What's underneath all of this concern is the question: Is my doctor acting in my best interest, or does he or she have a self-interest?" Schultz added. "My view on this stuff is, if you don't trust your doctor to begin with...then you probably need a different doctor."
To view the full Saint Paul Pioneer Press article, go to: http://www.twincities.com/ and search for "A World of Difference."
For more information, go to Minnesota Healthcare Rountable.