Doctors should avoid gift conflicts
I respond to the Advance Ohio Media article “Ohio 8th in United States for doctors accepting drug-maker’s money” in Sunday’s Dispatch. I am forever mystified by the fact that I, as an employee of a large company, cannot accept any sizable gift from a vendor due to conflict-of-interest rules yet doctors can apparently do so with impunity.
The fact that so many doctors in Ohio take money from drug vendors is an obvious case of conflict. Why is this allowed? I understand that the money these doctors get might be ostensibly to pay for services rendered, such as speaking at conferences or endorsing products. This is no way excuses the practice. In fact, it makes it worse.
If a doctor is speaking for a drug vendor, doesn’t this make it all the more likely that the same doctor will prescribe that medication even if there are better alternatives? I have the privilege of working with very fine medical personnel who actively discourage me from taking drugs of any kind unless there is a strong reason to do so. When they do prescribe, they actively seek generic drugs when possible. I respect these people for their professionalism and their good judgment, even if I occasionally wish they could give me a magic pill for my maladies.
Isn’t this the wise behavior we should expect of all doctors? We should join our legislators at the Statehouse to ban the practice of drugvendor payments to doctors, for whatever reason. Firm conflict-of-interest rules are a bedrock of ethical behavior throughout the business world. Let’s apply them to the medical industry as well.
Tim Hopmann Bexley have a conversation due to the volume of the background music. Thus, our dining-out experiences are few and far between.
Brian Hinshaw, Cameron Mitchell’s senior vice president of food and beverage, stated, “The music is a huge important piece in the facility. It’s not unlike going to a party.” I beg to differ, Mr. Hinshaw. Going out to dinner and going to a party are entirely two different atmospheres.
When we go to dinner, we like to have pleasant conversation, which is impossible in most of the upscale restaurants in greater Columbus. We do not choose a restaurant based on what music it will be playing in the background. If we want to be entertained, we go elsewhere.
I implore all restaurant owners/managers to take note. While we are baby boomers, they will have a lot more people who will be wearing hearing aids in the years to come because of all the ear-bud-wearing young people today.
Why not jump on the bandwagon (no pun intended) now and turn down the music? Just sayin’!
Rhonda Bova Hilliard