Patients trust their doctors to do what is right for them. So a doctor being paid for prescribing or administering certain drugs by the drug companies poses a natural conflict.
Drug rebates have mostly been prohibited. But doctors can still receive rebates for intravenous or injected medicines.
A New York Times article described how two major drug companies, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson, paid millions of dollars to doctors for administering their anemia medicines to patients. And since 1991, the average dosage of these medicines given to U.S. patients has tripled. Meanwhile, the FDA released a recent report stating there was no evidence that the medicines improved or extended the lives of cancer patients.
The law needs to change to prevent this possible conflict between medicinal benefits for the patient and financial benefits for the doctor.
Posted by Andie Clum
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15 Comments
Rebates are the tip of the iceberg. Try researching incentives to docs – just to take sample medications in their offices……
I agree GSheridan that “Rebates are only the tip of the iceberg. Try researching incentives to Docs …” It’s a just barely kept secret that doctors are given medical seminars, trips, “training trips to golf courses,” etc. in lieu of actual cash payments from pharmaceutical companies.
I suspect its a case of — if we could find out the real truth on these under the table “commission” payments to doctors from the pharmaceutical companies, we would be shocked.
One solid step that could be taken in this regard is to require doctors to write “generalized” prescriptions to be given to pharmacies. At that point, pharmacists would take over and actually use their pharmaceutical education to determine the actual brand name options that would provide the service desired by doctor AND patient.
I asked some questions about this possibility and was told that in some progressive states such as California, this kind of arrangement is already in effect.
Chemical companies are generally the most profitable companies in the U.S. Within that general area, pharmaceutical companies are the top profit making companies and pay the highest salaries.
Its a huge web of money that tops the middle east oil business in profits. As a result, I suspect the American people are hugely and dangerously overdosed on prescribed and over the counter drugs.
This kind of stuff is a major reason why medical cost are going up so fast. And the Republicans think these practices are just fine. In fact, they will not even allow Medicare to negotiate bulk prices. The Republicans are in the pockets of the rich fatcat pharmacy companies- not that anybody should be surprised. Such practices should be banned by law and, in addition, ALL TV advertising for prescription drugs should be banned- as it is in many other countries inclusing Canada where drugs cost about 1/2 of what they do here.
On a personal note, it can be really harmful to the patients. I had a patient who was paranoid schizophrenic. He was fairly well controlled on the medications he was on..and was able to function adequately for his high level of disabiltiy. We went to his house everyday to give him his meds and assess him for any exacerbation of his illness. The doctor decided to prescribe him a brand new medication (pushed by the drug rep, I’m sure) that was given in an intramuscular injection, it costs $300 a shot (the state paid for it, so why should they care?) and the doctor prescribed it without even really talking to this patient about it.He hated the injection and it got to the point that he refused to let us in the house..or else he would pretend to be asleep and not wake up. The doctor was incompetent..so he wouldn’t admit he had made a mistake and take him off the shots.Needless to say he went downhill really fast and we had to end up discharging him from services for being “noncompliant”. To this day, I don’t know what happened to him, but to treat people like guinea pigs just so the drug companies can make more money is morally wrong, and the doctors who give into the marketing and perks are just as wrong.
Uh last time I checked this constitutes fraud, according to medicare laws, and I’m sure all insurance companies would consider it fraud also. I for one question the validity of this report. Most doctors try to avoid fraud, considering the losses are far more than the gain that could be received. Massive federal fines, settlements, and loss of license usually deters such activities.
I have been to doctors that give away for free those designer drugs that are advertised on TV.
I remember a time when it was considered unethical for drug companies to advertise on television. But in the world of Bush’s corporate greed, all is well if the drug companies are making their profits. Let’s not think about the possible harm it might be creating within the American population.
As I recall, it was reported that Rush Limbaugh developed an addiction to Oxycontin after being prescribed it for pain.
And now in the past week or so, it has come to light that the makers of Oxycontin actually had lied to the doctors about this drug being addictive.
Is this possibly a reason why we are seeing so many people becoming addicted to these prescription medications? Is it all for money and nothing else?
That is because Bush, like Republicans in general is a fugging PIG. They could care less whether you can afford your kid’s medication or not. They could care less if your kid dies. If you are not rich, they could care less. As far as they are concerned, if you cannot pay $200 a month or more to stay alive, you should die. Never mind that the same drug you need cost less than half what you pay in Detroit 1 mile away in Windsor Ontario. This is Bush’s America and you can just go off somewhere and DIE!
It started long before Bush became prez, Ken. The drug companies have a lot of power, and there is a revolving door between the FDA and the CEOs of the drug companies. They spend billons each year on advertising and want us to believe that the price of medicine in this country is so high because this is where the most of the research is done…it’s all bullshit.
Parents have no right in spanking you – Or do they? That could be another persuasive speech topic
Home schooling provides a better education, is worse for your child
I feel like a fog, not that it matters. I’ve pretty much been doing nothing , but eh. Today was a loss. I haven’t gotten much done for a while.
I haven’t been up to much recently, but whatever. I just don’t have much to say lately. Basically nothing happening to speak of. So it goes. My mind is like a complete blank. Such is life.
Blame the parents of a murderer parents for the crime
Help the homeless down the street and persuade them to look for work