When you visit your Ohio doctor, you place a good deal of trust in this person to assess what is ailing you and recommend a proper course of treatment. You may not give much thought to whether you actually need a medication your doctor prescribes you, because you may assume that he or she would never prescribe you something unnecessary.
According to ProPublica, though, a recent analysis of doctors and their prescribing habits has confirmed what many have long suspected. The analysis showed that doctors are more likely to prescribe you brand-name drugs when they receive money from the pharmaceutical companies making them.
Analysis findings
The study revealed that physicians who receive money from drug makers or medical device makers prescribe a higher percentage of brand-name medications than those who do not. This held true regardless of whether doctors were receiving large payments from drug and device makers, or even free lunches. However, the analysis showed that, for most doctors, the more money they receive, the more brand-name medications they prescribe.
Generic alternatives
The study does not provide solid proof that payments encourage doctors to prescribe more brand-name drugs. However, it does raise some ethical questions. Most, but not all, prescription drugs have generic alternatives that are often far more affordable. In most cases, patients report no major differences between the efficacy of a brand-name drug and that of its generic equivalent.
So, if your doctor recommends you take a particular brand-name medication, ask about whether a generic alternative is available. Research shows that while it may cost you less, it may work just as well.
