For more than 50 years, the AMA has profited by selling physicians'
personal data "to pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, medical colleges
and universities, medical equipment and supply companies, and other
institutions interested in supplying goods and services to physicians and group
practices," it admits on its website. "AMA's Database Licensees are
specialized in direct mail, telemarketing, sales call reporting, and other
database marketing services," it says.
Physicians are free to opt out of the $50 million a year scheme,
censured at the AMA's 2007 annual meeting by Lydia Vaias, MD of the National
Physicians Alliance and John Santa, MD of the Prescription Project, a group
against such access--if they know about it.
But 40 percent of physicians surveyed by the Kaiser Family
Foundation in 2007 didn't--and 74 percent disapproved.
No, the AMA's "issues agenda" is as plain as the drug ads
which adorned its website as recently as 2007.
Why, for example, does it resolve this year to go after hormone
selling "for-profit Web sites, anti-aging clinics and compounding
pharmacies," when it has given hormone giant Wyeth who's hoaxed women into
cancer causing hormone therapy for four decades a pass?
Why resolve this year there is "no need" for more research
into a vaccine/autism connection and support "universal vaccination"
while pledging to explore non-vaccine links further? Maybe green beans?
Why ignore the taxpayer funded warehousing of so many of the
nation's children, poor and elderly on "atypical antipyschotics" even
as over 20 states sue?
And why ignore the epidemic of veteran suicides and suicides on
asthma, seizure, pain and anti-smoking medications approved as
"safe"?
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