The pharmaceutical industry would prefer that the public remain in a drug-induced stupor when it comes to the industry’s far too cozy relationship with the doctors who peddle their products. Fortunately, many people, including some lawmakers, are wise to the pernicious influence of Big Pharma and are demanding greater openness. As reported by the New York Times, one such individual is Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa:
Lawmaker Calls for Registry of Drug Firms Paying Doctors
An influential Republican senator says he will propose legislation requiring drug makers to disclose the payments they make to doctors for services like consulting, lectures and attendance at seminars.
The lawmaker, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, cited as an example the case of a prominent child psychiatrist, who he said made $180,000 over just two years from the maker of an antipsychotic drug now widely prescribed for children.
Mr. Grassley is one of several lawmakers to propose a federal registry of such payments. Minnesota, Vermont and Maine already have similar registries, and other states are considering them.
The proposals are a response to growing concerns that payments from drug makers can affect doctors’ prescribing habits, increase the cost of health care and, in some cases, endanger patients’ health. [full text]
Kmareka.com 
I agree, I have read enough and know that 85-90% of Big Pharma money is spent on doctors and their symposiums and other benefits for doctor’s ~ which places many doctors in a conflict of interest position. …..that said, conflicts of interest run amuck in the medical profession.
I hope parents understand the United States,. “…American Academy of Pediatrics said in 2001 that mercury in all its forms is poisonous to pregnant women and children and their exposure to it should be reduced. ” Why reduced and not banned from all vaccinations. Mercury is second to lead, and lead and mercury are proven neurotoxins. If it’s poison why reduced – what studies have been done to prove a trace amount is not harmful, which many doctor believe is the case. None have been done, and none reflect information to the contrary of scientific information proving it’s harm. One would think they are putting poisen in the shots to turn around and sell annedotes to our kids.
For example, the last 3 years we here in Rhode Island have fought to ban mercury from vaccines and demand a medical disclosure that a toxin is in the ingredients. The doctor that I have humbly work alongside over these 3 years is Dr. F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP who started the Infectious Disease Department for Rhode Island 35 years ago and he is tirelessly working with us to BAN mercury in any trace amount in a vaccine. Doctors should know that children process “traces” differently than adults, not just because of the weight factor, but infants do not shed toxins because their bodies are not developed enough to. They could point out that Sanofi-Aventis offers a mercury free Fluzone and their products are now MERCURY Free. Those are important public facts.
I care so much because I am an aunt of 2 autistic children, Mother of a son with developmental issues and in a circle of friends and co-workers that all seem to have children with some sort of neurological issue. These are important facts safety issues for you to alert the public and not make is seem like there are doctors just diagnosing “isms” to provide comfort for children’s inappropriate behavior. It is disheartening to know there are gov’t officials and doctor’s looking to cash in on over perscribing meds to our kids and elderly.
Let’s not kid ourselves either, Big Pharma and Bush & Co. are in agreement of their unethical behavior and each protects the others backside. Shameful!