2007-10-02 11:28:22 · 10 answers · asked by butterflylover 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
In the USA, direct kick-backs from drug companies are illegal. Expensive gifts are also forbidden (bye bye golf junket to Orlando). However, companies do try to influence doctors by taking them out to fancy restaurants and making them listen to a sales pitch.
2007-10-02 11:32:30 · answer #1 · answered by Nicole B 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. As a doctor I never got any kick-back. Or a fancy junket. I got dinner (at a continuing educational session needed to keep license) or little junky stuff.
Drug reps want to keep their drug in the doctor's memory to be prescribed when appropriate, but as medicine is not an adversarial-type profession (unlike law), this is OK, and I have never known a doctor to be influenced in favor of a particular drug that would harm a patient.
2007-10-02 19:38:39 · answer #2 · answered by Howard H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not. That would be highly unethical, not to mention illegal. Many of us don't even accept the pens and notepads with advertising on them that are handed out by the drug companies in hopes we'll remember the ads.
Most research these days is done with money from the company studying and/or selling the drug. As a rule, even having the funding come from pharmaceutical companies requires full disclosure of the potential for conflict of interest.
While I'm here, let me add that people who don't know should keep their fingers off their keyboards.
2007-10-02 21:30:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do you count pens? That's what we get. Pens. Lots and lots of pens. You should see the pens I have. More pens than you can shake a stick at.
Occasionally, we get lunch or dinner and an "educational" talk. I also have an OR hat that says "Suprane" (an anesthetic gas) on it. The elastic is too tight, though. I like Suprane on its own merits - the hat does not influence how often I choose Suprane over Ultane.
Yeah, kickbacks. Bring 'em on. One can never have too many pens.
2007-10-03 18:06:34 · answer #4 · answered by Pangolin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a very closely guarded secret. I have a friend who is a drug rep and he tells the doctor (he himself is not a doctor nor has he any medical training) of all the benefits of xyz drug. He gets paid really, really good money. He got really upset with me when I mentioned that crazy guy, Kevin Trudue(sp?), so I don't really know, but being everything else in this world is corrupt, why not.
2007-10-02 18:35:11 · answer #5 · answered by nars 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If there were real kick backs, both will go to jail. But there could be lots favors offered which are within the legal boundary.
2007-10-04 19:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by kenneth h 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no that's illegal in the US. there's no direct incentive for a doctor to prescribe one medicine over another, but that doesn't mean that drug companies don't try to influence a doctor's perceptions with things like free drug samples, catered lunches for your office staff, pens, and other various trinkets and tokens. it's all advertising.
2007-10-02 19:42:02 · answer #7 · answered by belfus 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes they do. Wonder what they get for prescribing Vicodin? that seems to be the only pain medication they prescribe now for whatever hurts.
2007-10-02 18:55:54 · answer #8 · answered by onyx1 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I've never gotten any kickbacks or anything. Never will, either.
2007-10-02 22:38:31 · answer #9 · answered by Pahd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they do, and they recommend certain drugs. Its like advertising
2007-10-02 18:32:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋