they "don’t test their me-too drugs in people who have not done well with an earlier drug of the same class." Laws In 1990, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed laws banning "gifts of substantial value" of drug companies to doctors, however this has changed the gifts from objects to meals and travel. In 2006, New Hampshire forbid the sale of prescription data to commercial entities. Encountering ill-informed reps at his practice Dr. Dan Foster, a West Virginia surgeon and lawmaker, introduced a bill to require reps to have science degrees. While it did not pass, it led to a disclosure of minimum hiring requirements. Alternatives In Australia the government funds academic detailers that are impartial medical students who provide drug information to medical professionals. See also Bad Pharma (2012) by Ben Goldacre Big Pharma (2006) by Jacky Law Me-too compound Pharmaceutical companies Pharmaceutical marketing Ethics in pharmaceutical sales Sales techniques References Further reading Drug Rush - Why the prescription drug market is unsafe at high speeds Carlat, Daniel. "Dr. Drug Rep", New York Times magazine, 25 November 2007. Sales occupations Pharmaceutical industry it:Informatore scientifico del farmaco