It is a pain to pay for health insurance, that’s for sure. In England they have universal health care. Although you have to pay for it the health care in the United States, it definitely has its benefits.
A few years ago in England my grandfather went to the hospital for a routine surgery on his knees, a surgery that the doctors would later tell us that he shouldn’t have had. After the surgery things just got worse and eventually we had to let go. However, if he was provided better advice and care, he would have never gone through with the surgery.
Here in the United States we often run into similar problems but not for the same reasons. The advice sometimes offered by doctors in the U.S. stems from the fact that they are being paid by companies that provide them with medications and products….often this is referred to as Medical Marketing. Both hospitals and doctors need funding, but sometimes they risk too much to receive it.
According to Dr. Robert Steinbrook who recently wrote for the New England Journal of Medicine:
“Most physicians in the United States have financial relationships with the industry, ranging from the acceptance of meals to the receipt of large sums of money for consulting, speaking, or conducting research.”
Not all doctors are influenced by those that pay them a lot of money, but some doctors are and your life could be at risk. Make sure you know where your doctor comes from and who they may work for. Although they might not disclose this information to you, make sure your doctor is one that is highly recommended; especially if you are having a major surgery.
Being a recent marketing graduate, I never thought of how serious marketing can be from the health perspective. When you think about it, walking into a doctor’s office you may see several pamphlets and hand-outs which discuss different medications and options you can “benefit” from. I think it is safe to say that if your doctor has these lying around then more than likely they are probably sponsored by the pharmaceutical company or manufacturer of the product.
When it comes to medications that your doctor may prescribe you, ask if there is a generic brand. The generic brands are made up of exactly the same composition; they just do not carry the name with it that they can market to doctors. Often times doctors are paid large well-known companies to prescribe patients with their particular drug. This could mean that you are paying a premium for something that you can get much cheaper (just because of the brand name on the package!).
It is really scary to think that the doctors we go to for advice and help and sometimes even put our lives in their hands could be so influenced by an outside force…maybe even put your life at risk.
Obviously for a routine check-up you are probably okay with whatever doctor you have chosen. But if you have recently received news that you might need surgery or something is more serious may be wrong with you, it is always best to have a second opinion. This second opinion should be someone who is not connected with your doctor (or sometimes even hospital) at all. Insurance companies will often give you advice on whom to go to for a second opinion if you call and tell them what you are looking for.
When I sat down and thought about how much marketing effects the world (commercials, advertisements, etc.) it really hit me how it can influence it in the completely wrong direction, causing more harm than any good. Unfortunately I still love marketing (otherwise I wouldn’t have made it my major), but it is always good to see both sides of a situation…especially one so serious.
Related:
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