On the Take

On the Take exposes financial conflicts of interest between physicians and the healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. The book examines how money influences medical decisions, research, and patient care. Through case studies and investigative reporting, Kassirer documents the various ways doctors receive payments and perks from industry players - from consulting fees and research grants to lavish gifts and equity stakes in companies. The text traces how these financial entanglements have expanded over decades within American medicine. Kassirer analyzes the impact of these financial relationships on prescribing practices, medical education, clinical trials, and the development of practice guidelines. He presents evidence of how industry influence shapes which treatments doctors recommend and what research gets published. The book stands as a critical examination of medical ethics and professionalism in modern healthcare. By mapping the intersection of medicine and money, it raises fundamental questions about trust, scientific integrity, and the primacy of patient welfare in medical practice.

Readers call this an alarming exposé of financial conflicts in medicine, with detailed documentation of how pharmaceutical money influences doctors' decisions. The book resonated with medical professionals who witnessed these practices firsthand. Readers appreciated: - Clear examples and evidence - Personal accounts from inside medicine - Solutions proposed in later chapters - Accessible writing for non-medical readers Common criticisms: - Repetitive examples and points - Focus on obvious/known issues - Limited discussion of potential fixes - Dated content (published 2005) One doctor reviewer noted: "Validates what those of us in medicine see happening but rarely discuss openly." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Publishers Weekly: No star rating but "important contribution" Multiple reviewers mentioned the book remains relevant despite its age, with one noting "The problems described have only intensified since publication."

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📚 Jerome P. Kassirer served as editor-in-chief of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine for over 8 years before being dismissed in 1999 for refusing to compromise his stance on conflict-of-interest issues. 🏥 The book reveals that some physicians received up to $400,000 annually from pharmaceutical companies just for promoting their products to other doctors. 💊 One study cited in the book found that 94% of physicians had some form of relationship with pharmaceutical companies, ranging from accepting free samples to receiving research funding. 📋 Kassirer estimates that pharmaceutical companies spend approximately $13,000 per year per physician on marketing efforts, including gifts, meals, and sponsored education. 🔍 After the book's publication in 2004, it helped spark significant reforms in how medical institutions handle conflicts of interest, including many universities and hospitals requiring their staff to disclose all industry relationships.