> Imagine walking into the office of someone who spent the last ~10 years at school and then potentially 20 years practicing their craft as a successful psychologist and then you waltz in and tell them what they prescribe is wrong and your automated treatment plan is better.
As I understand it, this is exactly what new pharmaceutical sales reps are asked to do?
The author was selling the outcome of the knowledge of many expert medical researchers, as summarised by the author's algorithm.
As opposed to the sales rep and the medical experts within the sales rep's company, neither the author nor his algorithm have any obvious direct incentive to recommend one medication over another.
At least in the UK, sandwiches are the most that pharma reps can use to bribe doctors with... Which is not to say they aren't effective (you'll get butts in chairs at least, no guarantee they will pay any attention to you though).
Damned bribery and corruption act. I could really do with some free holidays and lavish parties. Now it's all branded mugs and that's your lot. Someone offered us free beer and we had to refuse. Oh, the humanity!
As I understand it, this is exactly what new pharmaceutical sales reps are asked to do?