Most patients believe their doctors are in league with Big Pharma

A new Consumer Reports survey has found that the vast majority of patients on prescription drug medications believe that drug companies have too much influence over their doctors. Roughly half of those interviewed believe that their doctors are so influenced by Big Pharma that they would deliberately write a drug prescription even if a better, safer, non-drug option was available.

Of the nearly 1,200 patients interviewed, nearly half believe that gifts from drug companies influence which drugs their doctors prescribe. And more than 80 percent believe that drug companies offer incentives to doctors to get them to write more prescriptions.

Other concerns include doctors agreeing to be paid spokespersons for drug companies, speaking at drug industry conference and being "wined and dined" by drug company executives in exchange for favors.

According to Dr. Lee Green, these concerns are largely warranted because drug companies are known to participate in this type of unethical behavior. In fact, drug companies have now begun targeting primary care physicians to promote drugs rather than academic doctors because they are easier to convince and manipulate.

The study results are indicative of an overall decline in the public's trust of doctors, which is leading many people to conduct more research on their own about treatment alternatives. But rather than be concerned about the blatant corruption in the medical and drug industries that is causing this phenomenon, some researchers seem more concerned that people might stop taking their medications as a result.

Some experts suggest that patients question their doctors about connections with the drug industry. If a doctor is unwilling to answer the tough questions and be transparent about potential industry connections, then it is best to look for a new one.



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