Strong Medicine by Arthur Hailey Read Free Book Online

respectable. As it all happened, the crude early selling methods
    changed and became more respectable too.
    "But sometimes not respectable enough. One reason was that family control
    persisted, and the old snake-oil, hard-sell tradition was in the blood."
    "Surely," Andrew observed, "there can't be many families left that
    control big drug companies."
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"Not many, though some of the original families control large blocks of
    stock. But what has persisted, even with paid executives running the
    companies, is the out-of-date, less-than-ethical hard sell. Much of it
    happens when some detail men call on doctors to tell them about new
    drugs."
    Celia continued, "As you know, some detail men-not all, but still too
    many-will say anything, even lie, to get doctors to prescribe the drugs
    they're selling. And although drug companies will tell you officially
    they don't condone it, they know it goes on."
    They were interrupted by a stewardess announcing they would land in New
    York in forty minutes, the bar would be closed soon, and meanwhile would
    they like drinks? Celia ordered her favorite, a daiquiri, Andrew scotch
    and soda.
    When the drinks were served and they had settled down again Andrew said,
    "Sure, I've seen examples of what you were talking about. Also I've heard
    stories from other doctors-about patients being ill or even dying after
    taking drugs, all because detail men gave false information which the
    doctors believed." He sipped his scotch, then went on, "Then there's drug
    company advertising. Doctors are deluged with it, but a lot of the
    advertising doesn't tell a physician what he ought to know--especially
    about side effects of drugs, including dangerous ones. The thing is, when
    you're busy, with patients to see and a lot of other problems on your
    mind, it's hard to believe that someone from a drug company, or the com-
    pany itself, is deliberately deceiving you."
    "But it happens," Celia said. "And afterward it's swept under the rug and
    nobody will talk about it. I know, because I've tried to talk about it
    at Felding-Roth."
    "So what's your plan?"
    "To build a record. A record no one can argue with. Then, at the proper
    time, I'll use it."
    She went on to explain.
    "I won't be calling on you any more, Andrew; that's company policy, so
    someone else from Felding-Roth will be covering your office and Dr.
    Townsend's. But whenever you have a detail manor woman-visit you, from
    our company or any other, and you discover you're being given wrong
    information, or not warned about side effects of a drug or anything else
    you should be told, I want you to write a report and give it to me. I
    have some other doctors doing the same thing, doctors who trust me, in
    Nebraska as well as New Jersey, and my file is getting thick."
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Andrew whistled softly. "You're taking on something pretty big. Also some
    risks."
    "Someone has to take risks if it's. to improve a bad situation. And I'm not
    afraid."
    "No," he said, "I don't believe you ever would be."
    "I'll tell you something, Andrew. If the big drug companies don't clean
    house themselves, and soon, I believe the government will do it for them.
    There are rumblings in Congress now. If the drug industry waits for
    congressional hearings, and then new laws with tough restrictions, they'll
    wish they'd acted first on their own."
    Andrew was silent, absorbing what he had just learned and mulling other
    thoughts. At length he said, "I haven't asked you this before, Celia, but
    maybe now is a good time for me to understand something about you."
    His wife's eyes were fixed on him, her expression serious. Andrew chose his
    words carefully.
    "You've talked about having a career, which is fine by me, and I'm sure you
    wouldn't be happy without it. But I've had the impression, while we've been
    together these past weeks, that you want more out of a career than what
    you're doing now-being a saleswoman."
    Celia said quietly. "Yes, I do. I'm going to the top."
    "Right