Bogus Classifications

This was some interesting spin. 

Most free drug samples go to wealthy and insured patients, not to the poor and uninsured who may need them most, Harvard researchers report.

In fact, more than four-fifths of those who receive samples are insured, while less than one-fifth are uninsured and less than one-third have low incomes (below $37,000 for a family of four), the researchers found.

Got that?  If you are a family of four and you earn $40,000, you are “wealthy” according to Harvard researchers.  Anyone out there in that range?  Do you feel “wealthy?” 

Also, think about the practical aspects of this.  I live in a relatively middle class community.  I’ll bet that fewer than 1% of our family doctor’s patients would not classify as “wealthy” to these researchers.  Who is the doctor supposed to give the free meds to?  Are they supposed to let them expire because it would be wrong to give them to a “wealthy” family of four who has a substantial income of $39,000?

The threshold for what is considered “wealthy” seems to be getting lower every day.