Prescription Drugs And Conspiracy Theorists

[princerupe74]

A seemingly increasing amount of people question the prescribing of drugs by doctors, asking if its really necessary in a lot of cases and whether the doctors are benefitting financially by doing so. What are your beliefs on that front?

[sunny-dave]

"It's b*llocks" sums up my views quite nicely ...

[Sqad]

How do doctors benefit financially from prescribing NHS drugs?

[daffy654]

I've never heard this 'theory' from anyone. Are you sure it isn't just you who believes this?

[EDDIE51]

Doctors often prescribe drugs at are no really nessesary. This is because people expect to get some medication every time they go to the doctor and feel disappointed if they don't get any. The doctor takes the easy way out and writes a prescription just to keep them happy. There used to be several brands of 'sugar pills' or placebos that doctors could prescribe , they did nothing but kept the patient happy in the knowledge that they had their 'prescription' I don't know if they still exist.

[LazyGun]

Do I believe that all prescribing physicians are in the pay of the evil "Big Pharma"? - No.

Do I believe that the pharma industry oversells the benefits of some of its drugs, and occasionally indulges in some ethically dubious sales practices ? - yes.

No need for any kind of conspiracy theory to explain what is going on in the pharma industry. If you really want to gain an educated insight into the problems besetting the provision of prescription drugs, and relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and profits etc, you could do a lot, lot worse than reading Ben Goldacres most recent book on the subject "Bad Pharma".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/9617550/Bad-Pharma-by-Ben-Goldacre-review.html

[EDDIE51]

Found this you can still buy placebos
http://www.placebo.com.au/
Whats more according to this they still have an effect !

[EDDIE51]

You can even get placebos that look like any tablet you care to name
http://www.wedgewoodpharmacy.com/placebos/

[Sqad]

I no not know the answer to this, but.....is it ethical for a doctor to prescribe a placebo, other than in a properly conducted drug trial?

[murraymints]

sqad...can you look at last night's body and soul a question about hypertension would benefit from your thoughts !

[Sqad]

murray....morning darling....I have answered it...

[emmie]

isn't it the case where the doctor may have some connection with the pharmaceutical company, and is happy for a fee, to promote that particular drug. I have no idea if that is remotely possible, but i did watch the BBC programme where some pharmacies are selling prescription only drugs over the counter to anyone who asks for them. Don't know whether the police have now become involved seeing as how the respective pharmacies were caught on camera doing so, by the BBC undercover reporter.

[murraymints]

sqad..see you already have...!

[EDDIE51]

sqad , I am sure that years ago 'suger pills' were prescribed but it would not be ethical now.
There was even a study done and some colours of pill were more effective than others, I belive red pills were the most effective.

[Sqad]

\\isn't it the case where the doctor may have some connection with the pharmaceutical company, and is happy for a fee, to promote that particular drug////

Well............I have known doctors........shhhh!........that have written articles and papers concerning a drug..."fiddling" the results to make the drug a leading contender in the field.
If it is a medical department of a hospital, then the drug company may reward the unit with a cash payment for "research purposes" or buy that department a piece of equipment.

It is unethical for doctors to promote a drug for financial gain.

I wouldn't know whether this happens in practice..........;-)

[pastafreak]

I seem to remember reading a while back about a 'points' system whereby surgeries received funding based on how many patients they treated with particular conditions. I'd assume the purchasing of relevant drugs from pharmaceutical companies reflected the number treated. I don't know that doctors benefit personally in any way if that is what you are thinking.

[slaney]

@ sqad - the prevailing view is that placebos involve deception, and so are not acceptable. However the GMC guidelines are ambivalent, and open to different interpretation.

As to the question about prescription drugs, I agree with Lazygun. Ben Goldacre's book says it all.

[Sqad]

slaney....thanks.

Eddie......I have never used placebos.....

[emmie]

perhaps it benefits the GP practice, who knows, seems unethical to promote a particular drug over one that might be more beneficial to the patient..

[magsmay]

If there are two different brands of the same Generic medication then I'm sure some Practices would choose the brand with the best deal -why not? Some patients are their own worst enemy and feel cheated if they go to their GP and come away empty handed but that's no excuse for prescribing non essential medication.

[bednobs]

i can only tell you it doesn't happen with the NHS gp's in my area. The PCT will only let them prescribe certain drugs (ie the generic version other than a brand name) the drugs budget it very closely controlled