A few weeks ago, Pro Publica, an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest, published a database, (propublica.org/topic/dollars-for-doctors) that listed payments to doctors from pharmaceutical companies for lectures, consulting and advisory services. Obviously, their point in releasing this information was for people to be able to see if their doctors received payments and to cause uproar. I view the purpose of the database entirely differently. If my doctor were NOT listed as receiving payments I would worry that he was not considered a good enough physician by the drug companies to pay off!
Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath swearing to practice medicine ethically. The text varies by countries and there are original, classical and modern forms. But all basically promote the same premise: to practice high ethical standards. If a physician swearing by that pledge was good enough for the healing Gods in the late 5th century B.C., it is good enough for me.
The Chicago Tribune reported that the,” most comprehensive examination of the relationships between physicians and the drug industry comes from an April 2007 article by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Yale University's School of Public Health. In a survey of 1,662 doctors conducted in late 2003 and early 2004, it found:
•94 percent reported some type of relationship with drug companies.
•83 percent received food at work from firms.
•78 percent got drug samples.
•35 percent were reimbursed for attending professional meetings or continuing medical education sessions.
•28 percent were paid for consulting, giving lectures or enrolling patients in clinical trials.”
What is wrong with any of these findings?
(1) If my doctor did not have a relationship with a drug company, then he would have to spend his own time researching the latest prescriptions and might still be using leeches to draw blood.
(2) We all get food at work. Maybe some get a pork sandwich from Dick’s Last Resort and others a steak from Capital Grill, but free food always tastes better!
(3) I love when my doctor gives me some drug samples. It saves me a trip to Walgreens and they are free! Just like free food, gratis drugs are a bonus to the patient.
(4) I think it is great if doctors get reimbursed for continuing medical seminars. I want my doctor to be on the cutting edge of medicine and to be as educated as possible. I don’t care who picks up the tab.
(5) Of course a doctor should be paid for conducting research. Why should it cost the physician personally for this if there is a deep pockets pharmaceutical that will fork over the cash?
So check out the database and make sure your own docs are raking in the dough. A seven-layer cake is always better than just a cookie.
Bob writes:
ReplyDelete"I agree on points #3, #4, and #5. Drug companies can and should host “free” seminars. Doctors who are not part of studies, etc., still get “free” samples of medications to give to their patients. I would limit any direct compensation to a medical practice to the actual out-of-pocket expenses the practice has in participating in a test, etc."
Sue writes:
ReplyDelete"These payments want something in return. They are paying them to prescribe their drugs over the competitor's. I want my doctor to give me the best drug...not the one that paid him off."