Medicine Kickbacks

[Sandra Main]

I don't know if this is the right place to put it.
Mods please move if need be.
I have read and heard through sources about medicine. kickbacks for doc.
More money in there pocket whenever they subscriber medicine .
My guestion is how can you tell if you really need it or necessary or if it is just a kickback for the physicians? Scary to me takeing something. you don't need just so the physicians can get richer. Am i right or wrong for thinking this?

[Sandra Main]

Anybody have knowledge of this subject?
Any input would be great knowledge for me.

[elmoc]

The answer to your question is ...maybe. They don't actually get a kickback or anything that direct. One example that my parents (both MDs) have discussed:

If I am a physician, & I use a new medication, am pleased with the results of the medication when I have prescribed it for my patients, & therefore, prescribe it frequently, the drug company might ask me to fly to different conferences & present information about the benefits of that new med for my patients.

That may not seem like a 'kickback,' but they may offer to fly me (& spouse/family) to Hawaii, New York City, San Diego- any place that might be considered a fun place to visit, In this situation the drug company would probably pay all of my expenses for that trip, plus provide me with a stipend (often about $2,000) for making this professional presentation.

This example might be considered a kickback, BUT:

1. In the USA, any benefit received from that drug company MUST be disclosed when I make my presentation or write an article, do research, etc.

2. Doctors that do this type of thing frequently are referred to as 'drug whores,' & that is NOT a good reputation to acquire! .

3. More often, the doctors that have participated in researching & developing the drug present their findings at these conferences. They fully disclose their relationship as part of the conference presentation.

As recently as 15 years ago, these activities were not really monitored, & there were numerous drug whores out there.

In summary, if a doctor is taking anything of monetary benefit from a drug company, they are required to disclose it. If anyone is getting a blatant cash payment for prescribing a specific medication- then both the doctor and the drug company are breaking the law. That can mean BIG fines for both the doctor and the drug company, if they are caught doing this, the fines can be up to millions of dollars, plus jail time. Yes, this does happen. I know of a psychiatrist in Houston that was fined $380,000 & went to jail for 10 years, The drug company was fined $16 million dollars & 2 guys got prison time.

I hope this helps with your question.

[unknownuser]

Of course there are going to be doctors out there that genuinely want to help their patients and then there will be those that just care about the money and will just always find something "wrong" with you that they can prescribe a medicine for...

Me personally, I hate doctors, I hate medication. I refuse to go anywhere near a doctor's office.