Catching Up

These last days of perfect summer weather have slowed us all down a bit. Here are a few issues of note, by way of catching up.

For some rather evil fun, check out Mail Order Academics.

Then, learn all about that new epidemic, Motivational Deficit Syndrome.

After your laughs, get down to some serious debate about industry sponsorship of medical education in this issue of British Medical Journal.

Finally, sober up completely by realizing how utterly deceptive were the pharmacetical industry's arguments against the Massachusetts gift ban and disclosure law. In today's Boston Globe, we read that three more life science companies have announced major expansions in the state. This puts the lie to the claims by industry during its lobbying campaign that the bill would have a "chilling effect" on the life sciences industry in the state. Particularly unsavory was GlaxoSmithKline's blackmailing letter. Other states are considering similar legislation, and legislators there can rest assured that drug companies are able to do business without resorting to bribing physicians with mugs and hiding the details of their payments to hired guns.