Some Physicians Making Millions Selling Drugs
By tovarichpeter Follow Wed, 11 Jul 2012, 9:56am 364 views 2 comments
In South San Francisco CA 94080
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gasp! Doctors selling drugs? I'm shocked.
Doctors are courted by Pharmaceutical reps, and given all kinds of high end luxury perks for prescribing their drugs. 90% of the Doctors out there just take the drug reps word for the claims they make on the effectiveness.
That is why the lawsuits are always in retrospect.
Which is all the reason, I'm not very keen on jumping on this "we're all sick and need 24/7 around the clock medical attention and should eat every bright colored tablet and capsule handed our way." Funny thing about drugs 2.0 you have to take them for life, if they don't kill you first.
When did Doctors get out of the "Healing" business?
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CaptainShuddup says
Wish it was that simple.
1) Pharmaceutical companies fund research.
2) There are thousands of PhDs and MDs competing for grant funding.
3) Pharmaceutical companies fund the researchers who do "good work." Heck, wouldn't you?
4) Researchers who do "good work" get published in "high quality" journals.
5) "High quality" journals produce "high impact" news
6) Clinicians rely on "high impact" news to direct their practice.
Clinicians who do not stay "current" with "high impact" news are more likely to have repercussions. ("What, your doctor didn't prescribe you ____! He probably doesn't know what he's doing!")
7) Physicians at "academic institutions" are responsible for "educating" doctors in the field. Physicians from "high quality" "academic institutions" command higher honoraria for speaking.
"I heard ____ from Stanford speak. He said that the newest statin lowers cholesterol 30% more than existing statins and is much better tolerated. I guess I'll be prescribing that now."
8) Direct-to-consumer marketing helps direct consumer sentiment.
"Doc, I heard about this new statin drug while watching football this weekend. Why am I not taking that? I've got a family history of heart disease."
9) Everyone pays indirectly.
"Doc, my copay is $15 for the new drug or the old one. I just want what's better!"
Now ask yourself - What would YOU do? Let's assume you get it (and not many people do). Are you going to be a fly in the ointment? Or will you spend all your funds doing independent research to counter the billions in pharmaceutical funding? Or will you go work for an institution that caps your pay but will protect you from liability while it comes up with its own "research." Or will you leave the country? Or will you toil away barely keeping up with loan payments? Or will you buy in to the system like everybody else? What would YOU do?