Proud of myself

Didn't say kickbacks and unscrupulous behavior never occur. Just that it is much more tightly regulated. Nurses, NP's, bank tellers, police and virtually any other occupation have their share of unethical goings on as well. Pharmaceutical companies can take people out for nice dinners but an educational component must be part of the time spent together and the cost given by the company and received by the physician must be reported. The largest offenders now are often linked to pill mills and online prescribes because it's easier to get away with bad behavior. Those samples can be used for anyone who can benefit from them but are often saved up for and carefully distributed to those without insurance or with high deductible plans. Before SP gets knickers in a twist again, yes I have personal experience in this. Been married to a physician for nearly 4 decades and I can vouch that neither he or any physician I know receive kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. There are multiple websites you can check to see how much, if anything, your personal physician claimed in benefits from them. Disciplinary boards go crazy over those who don't report or who abuse the system. Last year DH had 150. he reported when a medical company came in and provided the respiratory therapists a training session on a new piece of equipment they were hoping would benefit covid patients... That was for the Subway sandwiches. Lunch is not a kick back, however, and neither are free samples or ink pens. Now the Congress folks who passed those regulations? You don't have to look hard to see the benefits they receive from companies and large businesses who sponsored them. And yes, we as individuals are marketed to directly by drug companies directly every time you turn on the tv. Makes people feel like they have the scoop on information and they are educated to ask for a new product by name. Drug companies DO generally make more from these newer drugs that don't get have generic competition. When was the last time you received a prescription and filled it with the physician 's office? You take that script to a pharmacy to be filled. That is where a lot of nonsense begins. That is why you are seeing commercials for GoodRx etc. as the public is being educated as to the weird goings on that can happen in the pharmaceutical business, many of which the pharmacists themselves object to but legally must abide by. I know everyone likes to doctor bash but the reality is much more complicated.

Im glad you are watching out for your dad. Our elderly need an advocate

Your situation hit a nerve with me.

My Mom passed away in January, age 93. I was her son and caregiver for a number of years. She was in her home of 61 years right up until the day before she died. That day, she was acting out of the ordinary, very agitated. I called her Dr., who suggested getting her to the ER for observation. I did so. She was diagnosed with a UTI, which the ER team began treatment for. While in the ER, she suffered a short TIA (mini-stroke) which added to her stress. She came out of it, and said to me, "Please put on my sneakers, and let's go home." I explained that she needed just to stay the night, and I would return in the morning to take her home. Since we lived just a mile away from the hospital, I considered staying overnight with her, but since she had calmed down, I decided to go home.

The call came early the next morning that her condition had deteriorated just minutes before. I rushed into the ER and blurted out "What the hell happened?" She never regained consciousness, and for the next few hours, I held her hand, sang some songs, and watched as she completed the journey to the sunset of her life.

I'm big on having written records, so I requested and received details on what happened from the time I left the ER to when I returned the next day. I found out that Mom was not calm during that time, and in fact she was given a low dose of haldol. When I read up on what is does, I immediately called the ER and her Dr. for an explanation. I was told the drug is sometimes used to calm seniors in certain situations.

I know I was a good caregiver to my Mom. I kept her well fed, clean, and content. It was a hard job, but she never complained, and when she would smile, so would I. If only I was there during those hours she was in the ER, maybe she would have felt more comfortable, and would not have been the given the haldol. There was no indication it contributed to her death, as it was another issue that developed (in addition to the UTI). My decision not to stay the night still haunts me.

I was always asking questions as her caregiver, so I give you kudos for being your Dad's advocate as I was for my Mom.

Right on! You did the right thing for your daddy. Its terrible these doctors drug up the elderly to a point where they are a zombie. I hope your dad is doing much better now. Yeah!

mariavictoria - good for you. Yes, you should be proud of yourself.

Good for you standing up to the doctor.

The doctors aren't evil, but they don't know your dad like you do. They have the book learning, but you have the common sense, and ideally together you make the care team for your dad.

I was the one who finally decided we weren't doing hospital trips any longer. My mom was in the hospital twice in that last year, and hospitals and dementia don't go together. After the last trip I said we're treating her at her memory care as best as possible and focusing on the quality of life from then on. It made life better for her and for me, because the constant state of being on alert was removed. I put her on hospice, and she lasted another seven months, including a bout of Covid, and died peacefully when it was her time.

No worries. Take care.

Doctor's get kick backs from Pharmaceutical companys. So its, here is a new med we have we'd like you to try on your patients. Many a time a Pharmacists catches a perscription that will interact with another the patient is taken.

Yes, you need to be an Advocate for ur LOs and yourself.

For what condition was your Dad prescribed Haldol?


How is that being addressed?

Halidol. That stuff bad. Good for you getting your father away from that.
I've been in caregiving for a long time and have seen so many clients being overmedicated to the point were they basically became vegetables. It's outrageous.
Rather than give an old person with anxiety a little Ativan, or valuim, or Xanax they'll load them up on Halidol and Klonipin and other anti-psychotic drugs because they're worried about an addiction forming.
Does it matter when someone is an old invalid if they gets dependent on a drug?

Good for you for being dad's advocate. Too many people have what they call white coat syndrome when it comes to doctors. This means they trust everything the doctor says even to their own detriment.