TroubleTB - You are 1000% absolutely wrong about doctors getting kickbacks for handing out or prescribing certain mediations.
This is so against the law - that a doctor wouldn't touch it with a 100-foot pole....nor would they even care to. I have worked with more than 30 radiologists, 18 cardiologists, and dozens of other physicians for the past 30 years. Plus as an medical office manager and supervisor - just imagine the amount of time that I have spent with pharmautical reps.
What you are suggesting is sooooooo totally illegal - no doctor would jeporadize his practice and income by doing this. No doctor would even want to become involved in this.
Kickbacks!!!!!! A law passed (probably 8 or 10 years ago by the FDA) statedthat drug companies had to limit any gifts they gave to physicians to $25 or less.
Drug companies do buy lunches for our office often - hoping to get a chance to sit with our 9 doctors and tell them about their new medications, etc. And, they leave all sorts of inexpensive stuff in our office advertising their medications (pens, not pads, mouse pads, and things like this).
Interestingly, the only way any pharmautical rep could do any more for any physician would be if he did it from his own pocket -- and, believe me, he wouldn't want to do this - nor would any of the doctors I work for do anything other than report him to his company. They would want no part of it.
Sometime - I really wonder how these rumors get started.
Doing what you mentioned would be a no-win situation for everyone involved.... the drug company, its employees, our physicians, and their employees.
I sure hope everyone is clear on this.
Carol Jean |