Are Doctors Tied to Certain Medical Device Companies

After the surge of complaints reported on hip implant medical devices, there have been recent warnings of not becoming a victim of medical marketing.

CNN recently published an article asking this question: “How likely is it that your doctor has a tie to a company that makes drugs or devices?” Dr. Robert Steinbrook wrote an article in August in the New England Journal of Medicine saying, “Most physicians in the United States have financial relationships with industry, ranging from the acceptance of meals to the receipt of large sums of money for consulting, speaking, or conducting research.” This is all coming to light after DePuy Orthopaedics recalled the ASR Hip Replacement System, which uses a metal-on-metal device.

There has been evidence that two physicians made more that eight million dollars each from DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. Many doctors do not think they will be influenced by these financial relationships but research has shown otherwise.

There have been thousands of complaints about the ASR Hip Replacement recalled medical device. The metal in the implant contains elements of cobalt and chromium, which have proven harmful and hazardous. Pieces of the metal from the medical device grind of the ASR hip implant that damages the surrounding muscles and tissues. The reported problems have been intense leg, groin, or hip pain, loose-fitting implants, fractures, friction transfer, and implant dislocations.

In the featured CNN article of not becoming a victim of medical marketing, they suggest a patient find out whether his doctor has financial ties to an industry. Experts say to look at the following hints: (1) look at pens and pamphlets; (2) ask questions about the devices: “If you’re considering getting an artificial knee or hip, you can check with the Association for Medical Ethics to see whether your doctor has a financial tie to Dupuy Orthopaedics or Zimmer Inc., Biomet Inc., Smith & Nephew Inc. or Stryker Orthopedics. All were required last year by the U.S. Department of Justice to disclose consulting agreements with physicians.”; (3) and ask questions about the drugs you will take long-term.