A recent article in the New York Times highlights the conflict of interest that exists for physicians who earn money from pharmaceutical companies. While it has become common practice for pharmaceutical companies to pay physicians for speaking engagements, there is evidence that these physicians are also more likely to prescribe higher cost drug options. The article, “Paid to Promote Eye Drug, and Prescribing it Widely,” explains how drug marketing money can be used to influence physician decisions and the difficulty in assigning fault.

Throughout history, physicians have been viewed as community and thought leaders. We look to them to solve our health issues and trust that their advice is based on years’ of practice and schooling but, as this article points out, patients need to do their homework as well. By asking questions like, “What are the various treatment options? What are the pros and cons of these treatments? and, How much does each option cost?,” patients can figure out which treatment will provide the best results at the lowest cost.

Read the full article here.