Your opinion re: doctor advertising and doctor kick-baks from drug co.s

R

RB-TX

Member
Doctors who advertise

I don't know if different states have laws regarding advertising by doctors, but if so, apparently our state does not because doctors and dentists advertise in daily papers on radio, and TV.

It seems to me that a doctor is not very busy if he/she needs to advertise for patients. If this is the case, there must be a reason they need to advertise for patients. I can see this for a new doctor starting on his/her own instead of going in with an established medical firm, but not for established doctors. I don't believe I want to go to a doctor who advertises and find out why he needs to do so.


Doctors who accept incentives from drug companies

There is a Federal law that doctors must report incentives from drug companies to prescribe their products. You can check the drug kick-back amount your doctor received at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/ . Just enter your doctor's name.

Frankly, I would expect doctors to prescribe needed medication for a patient's ills, based on what he thinks will work the best, and if some are equal, the lower priced brand, rather than the kick-back he will make.

What is your opinion on these items?



 
Medicine is a business. It is not a holy calling. While most doctors want to alleviate human suffering, it is a way to make a living. If a doctor wants to advertise to increase his income, why is that different than any other businessman? I believe there are stringent rules about doctors receiving kick backs . Kickbacks are a bad practice. Drug reps are a good way of keeping up with the latest drugs. Reps know their products, and they provide a useful service.
 
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I occasionally see ads for doctors as accepting new patients, which is not a bad thing for people new in an area not wanting to wait weeks or longer to see a doc. I've seen pharmacy reps sitting around physician's offices as well, but occasionally they'll give "free samples" to docs that they'll in turn pass on to patients to see if a drug works for them before starting a prescription. I've benefitted from this practice...
 
So without advertising then how does a person find a doctor?

As for kickbacks. I need more information. My friend has a son who is a sales representative for a huge drug firm.

I remember our golf course who catered to doctors in town for golf outings and it was picked up by the drug firms.

We have to remember. The only way you can get prescription drugs are from a doctor.

My doctor passes out prescription samples to me free of charge. Much appreciated.
 
Advertisements....especially TV ads....are quite expensive. The TV networks make billions of dollar per year from these ads....especially the ads for prescription drugs. Ultimately, it is the patient who pays for these ads.
 
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