In 1899 Charles Duell, the Director of the U.S. Patent Office, suggested that the government close the office because everything that can be invented had been invented.
A quote I will give you from Läkemedelsvärlden, which is normally an excellent pharma magazine in Sweden, will probably be remembered the same way.
In fact, Ingrid Stenberg has written an entire article which is likely to be quoted for the next twenty years as an example of utter ignorance.
Here's how she starts the article: "Doctors bought by the [drug] industry will soon be just a memory."
I know, those Swedes, they're pretty much like the bumbling chef in the Muppet show. And clearly some of the journalists have gone to the same cooking school.
Seems interessting to get to know some thesis of the article.
Posted by: strappato | October 26, 2007 at 08:20 AM
Peter's comment on the article online is funnier than he lets on here. After noting Duell's infamous quote, he adds, "I could imagine that many pharma companies are framing this article and hanging it on the whiles, while their product managers roll on the floor, laughing their heads off." This article, he says, will be quoted for the next 20 years.
BTW, she described him her article thus: "It was entertaining, of course, to watch the completely immodest, Americanized and self-aggrandizing Peter Rost make politicians and officials squirm in their seats."
Beyond that, the article made no sense to me. I saw no connection to reality.
Posted by: Lisa Carr | October 29, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Say Doc, nothing like starting your article with the completely bogus Charles Duell story to convince us that you are qualified to comment on someone else's "ignorance". But then ignorant arrogance is the hallmark of your profession.
The BS Charles Duell story:
http://www.ideafinder.com/guest/archives/wow-duell.htm
Posted by: Psychecentric | October 29, 2007 at 06:09 PM