Chapter: 10 Christian; Grateful to Work at MD Anderson

Chapter: 10 Christian; Grateful to Work at MD Anderson

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Dr. Body begins this segment by noting that being a conservative Christian has greatly influenced his life and professional work, particularly in the stress he has placed on telling the truth. He returns to his discussion of the pharmaceutical industry (addressed in Session 1), and notes that regulations have been tightened because of some physicians who did not act appropriately in their dealings with drug companies. He affirms that only once or twice did a drug representative attempt to influence what he said. In general, he felt he was performing a service by disseminating information on good drugs. ;

Dr. Bodey then talks about his post-retirement activities. He notes that he would like to become more involved in his church. ;

Looking back, Dr. Bodey says that he is very grateful that he was able to work for MD Anderson, with his associates, and with others for whom he has great respect. ; ;

Identifier

BodeyGP_02_20130626_C10

Publication Date

6-26-2013

City

Houston, Texas

Topics Covered

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center - This is MD AndersonFaith Personal Background Ethics Professional Values, Ethics, Purpose On Pharmaceutical Companies and Industry Dedication to MD Anderson, to Patients, to Faculty/Staff

Transcript

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

A lot more layers of bureaucracy involved, absolutely. Is there anything that I haven’t asked you that you would like to talk about? Because you’ve done so many things in so many areas, I just want to make sure that I haven’t missed something in preparing from your background.

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

Well yes, there is one thing that’s important. I am a conservative Christian, and that impacts what I do and how I think and so on, and it’s very, very important to me.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

How is that important to you? How has that had an impact on what you do and how you think?

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

Well, that I am honest and trustworthy, and that I try not to do anything that would be inappropriate for a Christian to do. There were times when I would talk to some of my colleagues or even occasionally a patient about their religious faith and so on, so I would hope that people who worked with me knew I was a Christian. I’m not necessarily sure that they all did, but I hope that they did.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

So that was a strong element to your research values, your sense of integrity, all of that kind of thing? Do you make a connection there as well?

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

Absolutely. I mean, when I did protocols, they were done correctly. There were no falsifications or fabrications or anything like that. It was what it was. And I tried to always be honest and forthright about what I was doing. And the same sway, I did a fair amount of lecturing over the years, literally around the world, and I was always careful that what I said was true. Now, the pharmaceutical industry has taking a beating about this kind of thing, and doctors. Nowadays, if you write a paper, the first whole page is about how you don’t have any relation to this, that, and this is what I do have and so on. Things were much looser in my days. Drug reps could come in and see the doctors and so on. I can understand how things have gotten tighter. But that was in part due to the fact that there were some doctors who were not functioning properly. I always—when I did a study, I wrote the protocol and had it reviewed, and we followed the protocol and reported it as it was. And if the study—there weren’t many occasions where the studies didn’t turn out well because I wouldn’t have picked the drug in the first place. But it has gotten out of hand now. Back in the days when I did it, the honorary—they paid a lot lower than what they paid now. I never—I think maybe once or twice, in all of the years that I gave lectures, a drug rep tried to get me to say something. I was always free to say whatever I said. Now, obviously I was saying something that was advantageous to the drug company, because if it wasn’t, they wouldn’t have asked me to come and speak. So there was that kind of effect. But when I gave a talk, I was giving a talk to educate people about diseases and the therapy. Of course, I said something about the new drug that was available, but I presented the data that we had as it was. If it wasn’t good, they weren’t asking me to give a talk. There was a certain amount of selectivity. I will confess, I was at a symposium where I heard other doctors that said things that were totally inappropriate, but I tried to be straightforward and present the data as it was. I didn’t get up and say, “Now you really need to use this antibiotic,” but, “Here is what this antibiotic has accomplished in our experience.” So it was somewhat loose in those days. It probably did need to be tightened up a bit. I think they’ve gone overboard at this point now. I did run into a couple doctors who made huge amounts of money by playing up the drug company. I mean, I got paid when I gave a lecture, but it was a set honorarium and that was it. And I appreciated the opportunity to do it. I felt I was doing a real service. As I said, if a drug was no good, they weren’t going to ask me to talk about it. So obviously there was a certain level of selectivity, because I was only talking about those that were really effective, like carbenicillin. That was a dramatic change in the treatment of Pseudomonas infections. Some of them were more important than others. I felt I was doing something useful because I was making doctors aware of these drugs and how to use them and so on. I think I told you about my experience with carbenicillin and how they shipped them from England in big vats and all. That was the first drug I worked with, and it was straightforward. It was a major advance in treating Pseudomonas infection—a really major advance.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

Is there anything else that I have neglected to ask you that you would like to be asked?

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

Not really. I’ve talked about everything. I didn’t fall asleep in the office.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

Well, there is one last question I’d like to ask, which is—you said the last time that I was here that you had been lecturing, but you were about to close the Anderson, you gave your last lecture. I’m wondering what you’re planning on doing now that you are well and truly retired?

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

[Redacted.] So I’m still not quite back to snuff yet. But I do intend to do something. I’m not sure just exactly what. More likely something related to the church than to medicine, because medicine has advanced so rapidly now that I’m really an old-timer. I’m behind the times, so I wouldn’t think that I have very much to offer anymore. I certainly am not going to take care of patients. I already gave up my medical license last year, so I’m not doing anything like that. I am kind of—I’m uncertain at the moment just what it is, but I do want to do something other than just sit around the house. But I’m not quite sure what it will be yet.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

So you’re looking at an array of choices, which can be a nice thing.

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

Yes, I want to do something. I’m not going to write any more papers. I’m all written out.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

Is there anything else you’d like to add at this point?

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

No, I really can’t think of anything except that I’ve been very grateful that I had the opportunity of working at MD Anderson and all that I was able to do there and with the associates that I had, especially Dr. Freireich. That’s about it. There are many, many people who work there at MD Anderson who I was associated with and who I have very high regard for—very, very, very few people that I ran into there that were not top notch, honorable, decent people trying to do their best. It’s a great institution.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

Thank you very much, Dr. Bodey. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.

Gerald P. Bodey Sr., MD:

I appreciate the opportunity to do it. I hope I didn’t bore you too much.

Tacey Ann Rosolowski, PhD:

Not at all. I’m turning off the recorder at 3:10. (End of Audio Session 2)

Conditions Governing Access

Redacted

Chapter: 10 Christian; Grateful to Work at MD Anderson

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