http://karenlangston.com/2011/05/is-your-doctor-prescribing-in-your-best-inte...
When you seek out a doctor is there a list of criteria you go through?
Like where they are located, reviews on the doctor, their track record, and are they covered by your health insurance.
When you get there, and you meet with him or her, they prescribe medication for you take. And probably, you take that medication knowing they are the professional and they have your best interest at heart right?
Do they?
What if you were to find out the drug you were prescribed was not in your best interest that it had more to do with incentives? Would you still hold that Doctor in high regard?
What if a doctor prescribes one medication over another not because it suited your needs but rather because of the perks and incentives the doctor received from the manufacturer?
Would you still feel you are getting the best care possible?
Anca Bianca a Chiropractor's assistance, wrote a report on Medial Doctors prescribing medication based on kick backs and incentives and the ethical ramifications.
Two studies conducted by The University of Connecticut Health Center, and the New England study, writes that "Drug reps not only swarm doctors' offices armed with free drug samples and pepperoni pizzas, but some doled out sports and theater tickets, staged elaborate parties and sent doctors on all-expenses paid trips to conferences at luxurious resorts"
Doctor's recieve Pens, notepads, mugs, etc, all freebies given to physicians from pharmaceutical companies and their sales representatives, inscribed with the latest, newest prescription drug logo all in attempt to convince doctors to prescribe these drugs to their patients
It doesn't stop there, there is more to read in Ancha Bianca's report right her at KarenLangston.com
Is this practice ethical? Are you feeling supported? Are you feeling you are getting the best care possible?
A survey performed by Consumer Reports published by MedPage Today revealed that out of 2,022 patients questioned, 1,154 of those taking prescriptions, about 47 percent thought that their doctors were influenced by gifts from pharmaceutical companies and 81 percent were even more concerned that doctors were being rewarded by drug companies for writing lots of prescriptions for the company's drugs
Not all Doctor's are praticisng under these false pretenses, and some are down right against it.
In 1999, Dr. Robert Goodman, based in New York, introduced
PAUSE
No Free Lunch, a nonprofit group to support health care providers who believe that pharmaceutical promotion should not guide clinical practice. Their mission is to encourage health care providers to practice medicine on the basis of scientific evidence rather than on the basis of pharmaceutical promotion.
No Free Lunch. org is making an impact. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared reports from 2004 to 2009 showed there was a 17 percent drop in the number of physicians that accepted perks such as all-expenses paid trips from the pharmaceutical companie
So the next time you are in the Doctor's office ask what there philosphy is towards taking incentives. It may mean the difference between health care and quality ethical health care.
take action, take responsibility for your own health. Read the full report right here at KarenLangston.com
Would love to hear your comments on this
do you have a conscious and ethical health care provider?
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Making a Killing and Making Zombies - The Pharmaceutical Industry and the USAby Wintertime7838 views
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