The relationship between physicians and Pharma: Playing the devil's advocate.

All who practice medicine face, on a daily basis, conflicts of interest (COIs) that have the potential to affect patient care. COIs may exist within our own practice. We may choose to perform (or not perform) a procedure that may (or may not) benefit the patient but clearly brings income to the practice; we may see patients in the office for services that might just as easily be taken care of by phone.