Annie Appleseed Project
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet our Team
    • ​Medical Board
    • Global Partners
    • Appleseed Ambassadors
    • Testimonials
    • Remembrances
  • Media
    • Conference Photos >
      • 2025
      • 2024
    • Updates – Magazine Articles, Radio Shows, Etc.
    • Blog Post
    • YouTube
    • Newsletters
  • Conference Videos
  • Meeting Summaries
    • Many Paths to Wellness
    • 2024 CAM Conference Journal
    • Cam Conference 2023 >
      • Recipes
    • Cam Conference 2020
    • Summaries From Meetings >
      • 2016 Conference
    • Agendas from Annie Appleseed Project Conferences >
      • 2020 Agenda
      • 2019 Agenda
      • 2018 Agenda
      • 2017 Agenda
      • 2016 Agenda
      • 2015 Agenda
      • 2014 Agenda
      • 2013 Agenda
      • 2012 Agenda
      • 2011 Agenda
      • 2010 Agenda
      • 2009 Agenda
      • 2008 Agenda
    • 2018 AAPR Conference
  • Cancer Resources
    • Info by Cancer Types >
      • Living Beyond Breast Cancer conference
      • Alternative Cancer Therapies >
        • laetrile-vit-b17-amygdalin-from-apricot-kernels-induces-apoptosis-and-causes-cell-cycle-arrest-in-cancer-cells-an-updated-review
      • Handouts
  • Contact Us
  • Donate

PHARMA GIVEAWAYS DOCX

Newsletter #74 November/December 2002​

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

Diane de Lara’s article ‘Exhibitionist Behavior’ [September/October] was a delight to read. I have attended many medical and other meetings and found [the American Society of Clinical Oncology] to be the absolute worst offender. The gifts and giveaways are huge, and everyone wants them.

Pharmaceutical company representatives offer another tote bag to an attendee at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

When de Lara asks, ”Are the high prices we pay for drugs subsidizing this pageantry?” the answer is a resounding yes. Add to that the money spent for direct-to-consumer advertising and their support of advocacy and patient groups for all diseases all over the world, and you find an awful lot of excess profit.

Meanwhile, Congress continues to discuss subsidies so elder Americans can afford their pharmaceutical medications. Hey, lowering prices might work.

Ann Fonfa, Founder
The Annie Appleseed Project
New York, NY
November 2002

Ann’s NOTE: March 2020, some time ago, the FDA halted the giveaways of expensive items. Now most exhibit spaces offer candy, sodas, ices, or ice cream. I have jokingly predicted an epidemic of tooth decay among oncologists.​
WHO WE ARE   I   PRIVACY POLICY   I   ADVERTISING POLICY   I   ARCHIVES   I   IN HONOR/MEMORY OF

​Remember: We are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. DISCLAIMER: The information provided is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any health condition and is not a replacement for treatment by a healthcare provider. This article or site may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of health, political, human rights, economic, democratic, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: Cornell University Law School.
​© Annie Appleseed Project. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet our Team
    • ​Medical Board
    • Global Partners
    • Appleseed Ambassadors
    • Testimonials
    • Remembrances
  • Media
    • Conference Photos >
      • 2025
      • 2024
    • Updates – Magazine Articles, Radio Shows, Etc.
    • Blog Post
    • YouTube
    • Newsletters
  • Conference Videos
  • Meeting Summaries
    • Many Paths to Wellness
    • 2024 CAM Conference Journal
    • Cam Conference 2023 >
      • Recipes
    • Cam Conference 2020
    • Summaries From Meetings >
      • 2016 Conference
    • Agendas from Annie Appleseed Project Conferences >
      • 2020 Agenda
      • 2019 Agenda
      • 2018 Agenda
      • 2017 Agenda
      • 2016 Agenda
      • 2015 Agenda
      • 2014 Agenda
      • 2013 Agenda
      • 2012 Agenda
      • 2011 Agenda
      • 2010 Agenda
      • 2009 Agenda
      • 2008 Agenda
    • 2018 AAPR Conference
  • Cancer Resources
    • Info by Cancer Types >
      • Living Beyond Breast Cancer conference
      • Alternative Cancer Therapies >
        • laetrile-vit-b17-amygdalin-from-apricot-kernels-induces-apoptosis-and-causes-cell-cycle-arrest-in-cancer-cells-an-updated-review
      • Handouts
  • Contact Us
  • Donate