Docs get paid to promote drugs on questionable research: I am outraged that these kinds of conflicts exist.

In Nov. 11 Chicago Tribune piece, “Doctor-drugmaker ties: Psychiatrist Dr. Michael Reinstein received nearly $500,000 from antipsychotic drug’s manufacturer”, it reveals that the doctor was paid to promote Seroquel despite his misgivings about his own research.

I am outraged that these kinds of conflicts exist.  Executives inside pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca faced a high-stakes dilemma.  On one hand, Chicago psychiatrist Dr. Michael Reinstein was bringing the company a small fortune in sales while conducting research that made one of its most promising drugs look spectacular.  On the other, some worried that his research findings might be too good to be true.

What do you think? Why isn’t the public more vocal about demanding reform of pharmaceutical companies relationships with doctors?