By Paul Thacker
Some of the most prestigious medical professional societies and patient advocacy groups may actually be little more than industry mouthpieces, pushing for expensive drugs and unneeded surgeries. That’s the subtext of a slew of investigative stories released last night by ProPublica, which got access to the financial disclosures of more than 30 different nonprofit societies, which were made public by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa).
In a story published in USA Today, reporters focused on the Heart Rhythm Society which represents more than 5,100 doctors. The Society received over half of its $16 million last year from the makers of drugs, stents, catheters and defibrillators. So what did these companies get in return?
Tons of advertising splashed around last year’s HRT meeting, including:
- St. Jude Medical ad on every hotel key card
- Medtronic billboards on buses, banners along stairs, and logos along the carpet
- Multaq (heart drug) promos adorning hotel nightstands
Selling out to industry wouldn’t be so bad, except that these groups are very influential in healthcare, establishing national guidelines for care, lobbying Congress incessantly about Medicare reimbursement, setting research objectives, and informing patients about treatments.
So shouldn’t they try to be a little independent and objective? Certainly not!
According to the Society’s website, 12 of their 18 directors are paid corporate speakers or consultants. But even when this obvious conflict is pointed out the leaders of these groups reject the idea that companies lining their pockets may also buy influence.
For example, here’s Jack Lewin who heads the American College of Cardiology: “I don’t buy a soft drink just because of the advertising … I buy it because I like it.”
Hear that, you slick marketing executives at Coca-Cola? Your flashy, thirty second, $3 million Super Bowl half-time commercials don’t work. Because, according to Lewin, people aren’t influenced by advertising.
For more amazing insights into these medical societies, see the following stories:
Medical groups sell companies access to their membership
Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber, USA Today
Financial Ties Bind Medical Societies to Drug and Device Makers
Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber, ProPublica
Press Release: Grassley renews call for voluntary disclosure by influential disease and medical advocacy groups (links to all financial documents from over 30 medical societies and patient groups)
Heart Society’s Tip Sheets Fail To Mention Risks
Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber, ProPublica
How the Heart Rhythm Society Sells Access
Dan Nguyen, ProPublica, and Nicolas Rapp, Special to ProPublica
Paul Thacker is a POGO investigator.
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