Companion health care reform bills are winding their way through the U.S. House and Senate, and there's a very good chance we'll see substantive reform that achieves universal health care in the United States, with a vote on the landmark legislation as early as August.

Over the past few weeks at a golf course in the New York City area where I play golf, I've had a chance to speak with a number of physicians. Further, while underscoring that this is not a scientific poll, if the 'Totally Informal Laz Survey' is any indicator, doctors are willing to go along with cuts in government and insurance payments for various examinations, services, and tests, provided other stake holders --- insurance companies, hospitals, other providers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, and the federal and state governments --- are called to make sacrifices, as well.

In one of the worst moves by a large pharma company in recent memory, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is tying up with doctor social network Sermo. According to The Wall Street Journal, "Pfizer-affiliated doctors will be able to talk candidly with the site's 31,000 members, potentially giving the company insights into prescribing patterns and a way to show doctors data on its drugs."

The paper points out that there is some risk in the move because the FDA and other federal agencies watch drug company communications with doctors very carefully. But Pfizer has cut its sales force and the internet may be a way for the company to do some not so subtle marketing.

The part of the plan that is really flawed is that Sermo could become a platform for groups of doctors to mount powerful criticisms of Pfizer drugs or offer clinical evidence that pending or current drugs may represent unacceptable risks to patients. In other words, the social network could undo as many sales as it makes for the big drug company.

It is Pandora's Box that Pfizer will wish it has not opened.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.