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The ethical question ultimately comes down to whether giveaways help or hinder the doctor-patient relationship. Antony says they help by making free samples available to patients and attracting doctors to educational forums. But if doctors get too cozy with marketers, the best drugs at the best prices may not ever reach the patients, according to Dee Mahan, deputy director of health policy at Families USA, a national patient-advocacy group based in Washington. "You end up trusting [drug-company representatives]." Do you believe every salesperson you talk to?