Scott Alexander explores the nuanced ways pharmaceutical companies influence doctors, arguing that their tactics are more subtle and ethically complex than simple bribery.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the complexities of pharmaceutical company influence on doctors, using personal anecdotes and hypothetical scenarios. He argues that pharma companies use subtle tactics beyond simple bribery, such as providing free lunches or drug samples, which can be difficult for even ethical doctors to resist. The post also touches on a community dinner sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, which highlighted tensions between different healthcare professionals. Scott emphasizes that pharmaceutical companies are 'sneaky' in their approach to influencing medical practitioners.
Shorter summary