Monday, May 21, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 3 Sample policy boosts U' in rankings RIAA From page 1 By PAUL FIEHLER For the Daily Even as doctors nationwide face criticism for their methods of pre- scribing medicine and the U.S. Sen- ate moves to tighten regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, the University Health System is gain- ing national recognition for its eth- ical prescription policies. The American Medical Student Association awarded the Univer- sity Health System an "A" grade in its national evaluation of 116 medi- cal schools released May 10. The University was one of five schools whose health systems received an "A" rating by the AMSA - which gave 40 other health sys- tems an "F" - in the association's first annual PharmFree evaluation, a nationwide campaign that rates the precautions taken by American medical schools to separate their operations from the interests of the pharmaceutical industry. Medical Prof. Steven Bernstein said the University was in the forefront of limiting the influence of pharmaceutical companies. It prohibited University physicians from distributing most medication samples to patients in September 2002 and enacted regulations for pharmaceutical representatives in March 2003, he said. Most other health systems did not start enacting similar policies until 2005 and 2006, Bernstein said. John Billi, the University's asso- ciate vice president for medical affairs, said he is proud of the Uni- versity's national recognition for regulating relationships between University physicians and pharma- ceutical representatives. All aca- demic institutions should limit the pharmaceutical industry's pres- ence in their facilities for the ben- efit of their patients and trainees, he said. Billi said pharmaceutical com- panies only produce samples of expensive, brand name medication and that many doctors are prone to prescribing medications they receive samples of rather than look- ing into more effective options. "Almost never are samples the preferred drug," Billi said. "If sam- ples were the preferred drugs, then we would be working hard to get doctors to use them." Not everyone at the University immediately accepted the health system's reforms, Billi said. Many University doctors who treat patients with financial diffi- culties objected to the rule because they thought that free medication samples were in their patients' best interest, Billi said. "Pharmaceutical marketing is one of several important ways for doctors to receive the information they need to make sure their treat- ment choices are the right ones and their patients are properlytreated," said a statement issued March18 by Ken Johnson, the vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. But Billi said it's bad practice for doctors to begin treatments with expensive sample drugs that patients will later have to pay for because there are often cheaper, equally effective generic drugs available. Bernstein said that in March 2003 the University forbade phar- maceutical representatives from giving gifts to staff members and required them to make an appoint- ment before visiting the hospital to promote their medications. Phar- maceutical representatives must get departmental approval before they can distribute informational materials to the University, he said. Retired Medical School Prof. Jeoffrey Stross said that the school has a responsibility to inform its students about effective medica- tions. "It is not the responsibility of the pharmaceutical representatives to teach our students," he said. PERFECT ANN ARBOR LOCATIONS! BEAUTIFUL SETTINGS! LOTS OF AMENITIES! Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apart- ments, with Balconies/Patios, Walk-in Closets, Free Storage, On-Site Laundry, Swimming Fool, Otdoor ecreation areas & much ware' 'Ei FRIiENDLY! TRAVER KNOLL APTS 184Tader 0dIN. Campus-Near U/M Hospital) SHOREVIEW APTS 420 Kellogg (N. Campus-Near U/M Hospital) CHAION APTS 2047 Charlton (West Side) Flexible Leases Please call for current prices & specials! 734.663.8463 name "John Doe" until the trade group issues a subpoena to the University requesting the identi- ties of the network users in ques- tion. By law, the University must comply with the RIAA's request if the subpoena is valid. "If it's not a valid subpoena, we'll send it back," Bernard said. Bernard said last winter that the University has rejected some past subpoenas from the RIAA after determining they were invalid. The University will only trace the IP addresses in question if the subpoena's validity is confirmed, Bernard said He said he does not know when the University will receive sub- poenas for the accused copyright infringers' identities. Before the RIAA can subpoena the University for network users' names, it must file the "John Doe" lawsuits. Bernard said the trade group could have issued the sub- poenas at the same time it filed the lawsuit, but chose not to do so for reasons that remain unclear. OnApril11, 20otheruniversities also received pre-litigation settle- ment letters, but it is unknown if any lawsuits have been brought against recipients at those univer- sities who chose not to settle. RANDOLPH COURT APARTMENTS ~6 2 Bedroom Apartment Homes Ground Floor Ranch Style! Private Entrance! Patio! Spacious Kitchen! Air Conditioning! 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