Financial incentives for doctors.
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Fees, Medical↗
Biomedical subjects
Marc A Rodwin
Publications and source records attributed to Marc A Rodwin.
The dark side of a consumer-driven health system.
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Consumer Behavior↗
Case vignette: inside information.
A research team at International Genetic Products (IGP) has been working quietly on a new product with significant market potential. Initial laboratory trials yielded significantly favorable results. A careful replication has now confirmed these findings, and both studies were described in a manuscript that has been accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Genome Today. The article will appear in print next month, and the staff at IGP are certain that it will attract considerable favorable attention to their company. The publication requirements of Genome Today included a pledge from all authors not to leak information on the study prior to the publication date press releases normally issued by the journal. Meanwhile, Dr. Phil T. Lucre, who was used as a reviewer of the manuscript by the editor of Genome Today, has learned that the article is to be published by routine editorial feedback. Based on this "inside information," Dr. Lucre plans to make a substantial investment in IGP stock before the embargo on information in the forthcoming article is lifted. He reasons that, although he may indeed have access to special information, he should not be limited in his investment options simply because he happened to be assigned to review this manuscript. What ethical issues are raised by Dr. Lucre's plans? Can/should journal editors take any steps to preclude problems of this sort from arising?
Behavioral Research↗
Malpractice premiums and physicians' income: perceptions of a crisis conflict with empirical evidence.
The conventional wisdom is that malpractice premiums have steadily risen and now constitute a crisis for medical practice. The best available data suggest otherwise. American Medical Association (AMA) surveys of self-employed physicians from 1970 to 2000 indicate that premiums rose until 1986, then declined until 1996, rose thereafter, but were lower in 2000 than in 1986. Other items represented a much greater share of total practice expenses in 1970 yet increased rapidly until 1996 and moderately thereafter, while spending on premiums fell during 1986-2000. National trends were reflected with variations in obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, and anesthesiology and in nine regions surveyed.
American Medical Association↗