If Big Pharma is handing out money, get in line

The recent article “Pharma money flows to doctors” (The News-Times, Jan.

6) inspired me. Actually, it made me envious, and I admit, a bit greedy.

I thought, what the heck, if pharmaceutical companies have that much money to hand over to speakers why shouldn’t I get some?

I would be willing to accept say about

$100,000 if some pharmaceutical company paid me to talk about how difficult it is to take care of patients in a health care system controlled by the insurance companies. I could do it in about 20 minutes followed by a question-and-answer period.

To reach a bigger audience, they could give me one of their television slots that they use to advertise new drugs. There are so many, one less shouldn’t be a problem. It would be a great message for the public to see and hear. Maybe it would catch on with our leaders in Congress, they may even be moved to commend “big pharma” for spreading the message that insurers’ paperwork is killing primary care.

Like many other primary care doctors, my income keeps dropping while at the same time my paperwork keeps increasing. Worse, the paperwork takes a lot of time away that I need to spend with my patients, and I am thinking about retiring sooner than I had expected.

But, if my paperwork were decreased, I would have more time to spend with my patients and I could probably hold off on early retirement.

The publicity would be good for the pharmaceutical industry. Instead of being seen as greedy and selfish it would be seen as a hero of health care. All this for only $100, 000! Edward Volpintesta, MD

Bethel