At first, I thought John Mack’s recent lengthy rant (in two parts, no less) about a pharma company not providing cupcakes to patients was a joke… Something along the lines of sarcasm or parody, I wasn’t sure. But after reading the post (and the original post), I think Mack is serious.
I’m sorry, but maybe he missed the part where pharmaceutical companies already spend millions of dollars every year in free drug programs and free samples? I think it’s far more important, and life-altering, that drug companies provide patients with free drug programs and free drug samples (via doctors) than free cupcakes.
I mean, really, you’re writing thousands of words about cupcakes? If this is what the medical blogosphere considers “important,” it must be a real slow news week.
(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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3 Responses to “No Cupcakes? Are You Kidding Me?”
Claire at 8:33 am on
June 1st, 2007
I think this could actually backfire on the drug companies. For example, if a patient eats too many cupcakes and gets a tummy ache they might come to resent the drug company and not take their drugs. j/k
Nicole Cormier at 9:52 pm on
June 2nd, 2007
Oh yes, we all know how very benevolent Big Pharma are…giving limited free samples of drugs that are required indefinitely to manage symptoms instead of curing terminal illnesses and debilitating mental disorders…even if they WERE giving out cupcakes I would still loathe their black hearts.
Don’t understand my bitterness? Why is cognitive-behavior therapy, a treatment demonstrated to be equally effective as medication for depression and anxiety, but with the added benefit of having no side effects and continuing to benefit the person once treatment is discontinued, is NOT covered by Canadian medical, and instead, anti-depressant drugs that only provide temporary symptom amelioration in exchange for devastating side effects and potentially hazardous psychotropic consequences are handed out so readily as a front-line treatment? My answer: Because CBT won’t make a huge pharmaceuticals company any money.
Yes, the pharmaceuticals industry are real heroes.
John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at 1:23 pm on
June 3rd, 2007
Well, I didn’t say they are “benevolent” — they are certainly businesses that are looking after their bottom lines. They are also in a unique position within our society to influence care to the indigent and poor, some of which they do. (I’m not sure it’s their role or responsibility to provide unlimited care to the poor (I think that’s ultimately government’s), but they do what I’d consider a fair share.)
I also believe psychotherapy treatments absolutely should be covered by government and private insurers as readily as medications are. I think it’s a travesty they are not in Canada (they are so here in the U.S.).
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I think this could actually backfire on the drug companies. For example, if a patient eats too many cupcakes and gets a tummy ache they might come to resent the drug company and not take their drugs. j/k
Oh yes, we all know how very benevolent Big Pharma are…giving limited free samples of drugs that are required indefinitely to manage symptoms instead of curing terminal illnesses and debilitating mental disorders…even if they WERE giving out cupcakes I would still loathe their black hearts.
Don’t understand my bitterness? Why is cognitive-behavior therapy, a treatment demonstrated to be equally effective as medication for depression and anxiety, but with the added benefit of having no side effects and continuing to benefit the person once treatment is discontinued, is NOT covered by Canadian medical, and instead, anti-depressant drugs that only provide temporary symptom amelioration in exchange for devastating side effects and potentially hazardous psychotropic consequences are handed out so readily as a front-line treatment? My answer: Because CBT won’t make a huge pharmaceuticals company any money.
Yes, the pharmaceuticals industry are real heroes.
Well, I didn’t say they are “benevolent” — they are certainly businesses that are looking after their bottom lines. They are also in a unique position within our society to influence care to the indigent and poor, some of which they do. (I’m not sure it’s their role or responsibility to provide unlimited care to the poor (I think that’s ultimately government’s), but they do what I’d consider a fair share.)
I also believe psychotherapy treatments absolutely should be covered by government and private insurers as readily as medications are. I think it’s a travesty they are not in Canada (they are so here in the U.S.).
