New reporting laws are shining a light on the widespread extent of payments and gifts from drug and device companies to physicians, a practice which has been rampant for decades. Companies often treat doctors to dinner, pay them to attend lectures, and underwrite conferences and continuing medical education courses. This all begs a serious question
New reporting laws are shining a light on the widespread extent of payments and gifts from drug and device companies to physicians, a practice which has been rampant for decades. Companies often treat doctors to dinner, pay them to attend lectures, and underwrite conferences and continuing medical education courses. This all begs a serious question about how much patients can really trust their doctors. “I don’t think doctors ever set out to make decisions that are not in the best interest of their patients,” said Dr. Deborah R. Korenstein, associate professor at Mount Sinai. “But there are subconscious influences that people can’t control, and that’s why patients, and doctors, need to be concerned." Next year when the Physician Payment Sunshine Act goes into effect, data on these kinds of payments will be available nationwide, and patients will be able to use the information to make more informed decisions about doctors and treatment options.
The New York Times, 5/13/2013
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