This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on Web of Science (1)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

To the Editor.—The practice of physician involvement in a "multilevel marketing" arrangement of promoting and selling nutritional supplement products directly to patients came to our attention when some patients in our health care system complained of their "high-priced" vitamin therapy. We found that several of our physicians were recommending and selling a patented formulation of fiber, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, and coenzymes known as "Bio-C," "Cardio-Basics,"and "Bios Life 2 Natural" manufactured by Rexall Showcase International (RSI), Boca Raton, Fla.

These products are promoted to reduce total cholesterol level and cardiovascular disease risk. Although we are aware of enough good evidence on fiber¹ and antioxidants² to support some of the products' purported benefits, we have ethical concerns with this particular practice of providing patients with nutritional supplements. Our general ethical concerns are 2-fold: physicians are using their positions of authority to profit from direct sales to patients, and . . . [Full Text of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?