The US government has a website that shows how your doctor is being bribed

[TheVrolok]

http://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=17167

That's the guy, sounds like a load of BS to make $330k over 4 months, that isn't even your normal salary.

Yep. One of the leading experts in the field on planet Earth. Definitely a load of BS that he'd get paid for it.

 

[SlitheryDee]

It doesn't automatically make you a sellout, but you've got to tread lightly. The norm of reciprocity is deeply ingrained, which makes any "gift" from a corporation highly suspect. They wouldn't do it if it didn't help their brand.

Indeed. Even in the case I mentioned they probably only did it so that they would have an example of an "company sponsored unbiased informational seminar" to point to when anyone accused them of shady business practices. That's ok though. I like it when I can easily understand an entity's motivations.

 

[vi edit]

A lot of times it's more of a marketing move for name recognition than any real stumping for a product.

I've seen a lot of health care conferences "supported by" a Vendor where the vendor will pay for catered lunches for the event or bring in guest speakers but there's no pandering or shout outs to that company. They get to put their logo on something and maybe better placement of a table at a vendor show and that's it.

It's not like these guys are getting paid $3500 to run up on stage and scream CRESTOR ROCKS! And wax ecstatic about it it's virtues for an hour. The discussions are much more general in nature and discuss particular therapeutic uses of different drug types (not brands) in treatment of various disease states.

 

[DrPizza]

I can't say anything. I work in IT and I can't count the number of free meals, passes to conferences, coffees, ect that I've received from vendors over the years. And none of that is documented.

I saw the amounts for some of the doctors and thought, "wow, doctors are pretty cheap." Those amounts are just the tip of the iceberg. I know of medical specialists who have been on flights, stayed at resorts, etc. - but not necessarily physicians. Doctors: "let's get a new MRI. Let's get a new..." They're not the ones picking which company's MRI to go with.

 

[CPA]

But why isn't that bribing? I don't buy lunches, dinners, and other stuff out of the goodness of my heart. It all adds up.

$700 lunches over the course of a year or more is hardly something to 1) consider bribing, and 2) to get worked up over.

"hey, we're going to demo our product on Thursday and Friday. These are all-day events, so we'll pick up lunch for your staff." Bribing? c'mon. Like we're going to make a decision on a product based on the vendor buying lunch.

 

[Stopsignhank]

My doctor's list includes Food and Beverage for $1.86. I think that is pretty honest if you are disclosing that someone bought you a soda.

 

[vi edit]

I saw the amounts for some of the doctors and thought, "wow, doctors are pretty cheap." Those amounts are just the tip of the iceberg. I know of medical specialists who have been on flights, stayed at resorts, etc. - but not necessarily physicians. Doctors: "let's get a new MRI. Let's get a new..." They're not the ones picking which company's MRI to go with.

A software vendor I worked with in the past paid for an entire dinner for my team at Morton's in Chicago plus paid for the limo to run us back and forth between the restaurant and our hotel. Plus drinks. Plus access to a large convention which was $600 a person to get into.

They dropped some coin.

 

[BoberFett]

Thanks, Obama.

As someone who has accepted hundreds of millions of dollars to get where he is, I'd expect Obama to be in favor of bribery.

 

[Slew Foot]

Yep. One of the leading experts in the field on planet Earth. Definitely a load of BS that he'd get paid for it.

OMG the outrage! experts are getting paid for their work! And in many cases not very well. Lets face it, the government, especially democrats, hates doctors and will do anything to make them look bad. OMG your doctor got a $3 lunch! Fire him! <hides millions in lobbying money>

 

[Jadow]

egads my Dr. got a $45 meal back in 2013!

That's all he's got listed!

 

[Ken g6]

my doc is not found

Neither is mine.

I do remember, though, one day while I was sitting in the waiting room, a pharma rep came in and started discussing stuff with the nursing staff.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Why do you think docs are always pushing meds on you like there's no tomorrow? Like when I went to the doc and my BP was 145/80 and he tried to give me meds for it. From a one off reading with no frame of reference. He didn't even try and tell me to change my diet or lose weight etc. Just straight on the pills. Cha ching.

 

[rudeguy]

Why do you think docs are always pushing meds on you like there's no tomorrow? Like when I went to the doc and my BP was 145/80 and he tried to give me meds for it. From a one off reading with no frame of reference. He didn't even try and tell me to change my diet or lose weight etc. Just straight on the pills. Cha ching.

You're a moron.

 

[TheVrolok]

You're a moron.

I don't often agree with rudeguy's posts, but I endorse this 100%.

 

[Slew Foot]

I don't often agree with rudeguy's posts, but I endorse this 100%.

arent you a urologist? you should be all over the stinky pinky.

 

[TheVrolok]

arent you a urologist? you should be all over the stinky pinky.

General Internist. SirStev0 (my college roommate) is a urologist. Urology.. ick.

 

[StinkyPinky]

You're a moron.

Really? When I went home my BP was 130/75.

And yet he was about to give me pills.

Sounds like the doc was a moron.

 

[Strk]

General Internist. SirStev0 (my college roommate) is a urologist. Urology.. ick.

I'd say that assessment is a little on the ball(s).....

 

[Blanky]

You're a moron.

Please explain why. Medicating somebody at 145/80 with no frame of reference is stupid. White coat syndrome alone could put it there.

 

[TheVrolok]

Nevermind, not even going to bother.

 

[Slew Foot]

Really? When I went home my BP was 130/75.

And yet he was about to give me pills.

Sounds like the doc was a moron.

thats still pretty high

 

[disappoint]

Nevermind, not even going to bother.

What? 145 over 80 ain't bad
You prolly gettin paid so you glad
You be sittin pretty rollin in yo bran new Cad
Be hatin on middoo class sayin
who's yo dad? Who's yo dad?
they be like I hope this bribary just a fad
but it's the Barbary pirates make you say egad!

No I should not OF been a rap star.
yo.

 

[disappoint]

thats still pretty high

No it isn't. You're not a computer, your voltages don't have to be within 0.01V son.

 

[TheVrolok]

What? 145 over 80 ain't bad
.

Well really it's all contextual, it's certainly elevated in the setting of a number of possible comorbid conditions. In an otherwise healthy individual it doesn't meet the JNC 8 definition of hypertension, but it's certainly not ideal either.

 

[balloonshark]

Neither is mine.

I do remember, though, one day while I was sitting in the waiting room, a pharma rep came in and started discussing stuff with the nursing staff.

Every time I go to a doctor I see a rep. It ticks me off when they get to walk right in ahead of me even though I'm the one that had an appointment.

My doc had $218 spent in food and beverage. One was $125 which was probably a tray for the entire office. One other doc in town got a $7000 consultation fee :hmm:. Kinda weird considering he's a doc in small town WV.