I just started working in a medical office...every day drug reps come in and give free lunch, starbucks, jamba juice...some times breakfast and dinners with the doctors at least twice a week. All office supplies come from these people too... so is that right? Are they swaying the doctors judgment on the drugs they give you?
2007-06-13 15:09:23 · 9 answers · asked by purpleraingemini 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
The reps aren't there by accident. They have learned that gifts pay dividends.
The sales reps receive reports on prescribing habits of all physicians across the country. This data is reported by all of the big chain drug stores to private companies. The data is pulled from the millions of prescriptions written every day.
The private companies then provided customized reports to all the major drug manufacturers. These reports tell each company and their respective sales reps how successful they have been within a particular medical office, such as yours.
If the reps for your office have been successful in bribing your doctors with breakfasts, lunches, dinners and gifts, it shows up in the data which they and the sales managers receive.
The short answer to your question is yes - your doctors are being bribed. What this means is that the prescribing decisions of your doctors are no longer based on logic - they are based on outside influence.
Many doctors also buy stock in many of the drug companies which they support with their prescriptions. Perfectly ethical - right ?
The most damaging implication behind this behavior is cost. The cost of brand name drugs is higher than non branded (generic) drugs. That extra cost is passed along to every American, through higher medical insurance premiums. That extra cost also comes around to bite all of us via taxes, as a wide variety of discount prescription programs for seniors are administered by the Federal government.
Finally - who is really paying for those free meals and office supplies ? You are. Who's being swayed ? Your doctors.
2007-06-13 15:34:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe in some cases they are. But I will tell you a little story. I was sitting in my Oncologists office in March or April of this year waiting for my treatment when a drug rep came in. She offered to come in early one morning and bring a full blown breakfast for the whole staff. She said she wanted to tell the staff about the newest cancer drugs they were going to supply to the office. She didn't get past the waiting room. The nurse in charge, Roberta, came out and said, "when the Doctor is in the building, he is here to see patients, not drug reps". She went on to say that he does not see drug reps because his patients need him more than a sales person does.
I love that man. He is one of the finest Doctors that I know and I know plenty. I have a regular primary care doctor and 6 specialists I have to see at least every other month.
2007-06-13 15:28:55 · answer #2 · answered by nana4dakids 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You brought up a point that many do not realize.
One of the biggest costs in the medical arena, is pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical reps make big money pimping out their pills.
It makes you wonder doesnt it. That doctor decided to prescribe you teh wonderpill1000. Was it actually the best medication for your situation? or was it because it was good enough and the pharmaceutical company will send him and his wife on a cruise if he prescribes enough of their product.
We need better oversight and reform regarding this issue big time.
2007-06-13 15:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by sociald 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The best sales people most often work for the best companies & since the best sales people make most of the sales & the products they sell are usually the best because they work for the best companies, that most often means that the best products (drugs) get to the doctors they call on.
2007-06-13 15:15:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It consequences from the chilly conflict even as the U. S. felt that if it did not intervene in u . s .'s affairs, communism might want to take over in that u . s ., ensuing in a domino effect the international over. After the chilly conflict ended, terrorism took the spotlight, and the U. S. needs to sidestep assaults like 9/11 by systemically eliminating the origins of terrorism contained in the middle East
2016-11-23 19:24:45 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it isn't right.. it's called kickbacks.. and doctors like politicians are just an easy target.
Anytime anyone can get anything for nothing.. out the window goes all those scruples we hear about.. and in the door comes greed.
2007-06-13 16:14:36 · answer #6 · answered by Debra H 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are sales men its up to the doc to make the decision to buy the product or not. The free stuff must be the way to the doctors heart cause thats what we learn in business school how swoon our clients.
2007-06-13 15:18:19 · answer #7 · answered by fine_ass_fatty21 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They come into because they are trying to convince the doctors to push their drugs. Is it right? It's unethical but unfortunately not illegal.
2007-06-13 15:15:42 · answer #8 · answered by Legally Brunette 3 · 5⤊ 1⤋
who's paying for all that?
and why is my insurance and medical bills so high?
wonder if they are related?
2007-06-13 15:13:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋