I suppose I am naive, but somehow, when it comes to most things medical, I tend to automatically defer to the judgment of a physician.
I should know better, but I tend to think “hey, s/he’s a doctor, I can trust him.”
Well…I don’t think that anymore.
Back on September the 18th, I went to see Dr. Robert Sher of Urological Associates and was diagnosed with prostatitis.
Dr. Sher prescribes me an antibiotic (it cost $130) and tells me to cut back on spicy foods and coffee.
So far, so good.
Then, I had a follow up appointment on October 14th, in which he suggested that I start taking a nutritional supplement called Prostate SR from a company called Theralogix.
He gave me a piece of paper (it kind of looked like a prescription form) with a code on it and said “just make sure to put in this number when you order.”
I didn’t think anything of it (I know, I’m a marketer and I should have) and went ahead and ordered it.
About a week or so later, I asked myself, “why the number?”
I started digging around the Theralogix site and, though I couldn’t get a clear answer from it (and when I called to ask, I felt they were a bit shady about it), got the distinct impression that the code I had received was a way to track commissions and referrals.
As a marketer, that’s what I would do.
Then, I called Urological Associates…four times over the course of a few weeks and asked to speak with the Office Manager, looking for clarity.
Each time, the message was “she’s not available, I will pass it along.”
No one ever called me back.
I kept getting bills from them, but in one of my messages I said, “look, I’m happy, more than happy to pay the bill, but I’d like to get an answer from you about the nature of the relationship between Dr. Sher and Theralogix. I just kind of feel like your incentive to tell me is much higher BEFORE I pay you.”
No one called and, as life goes on, I kind of forgot about it. I got used to ignoring the bill as well.
Then, last week, I get a call from a Collections agency.
That ticks me off big time.
I call the office again and DEMAND to speak to the Office Manager (passing through yet another gatekeeper). She finally calls me back and I explain my concerns.
Two or three days later, Dr. Sher calls me and says, “I’m sorry. I usually tell people that I have a relationship with Theralogix. I guess I was caught up that day.”
I ask about the nature of the relationship. Does he get a commission?
“I make pennies on each order,” he says, “but I’m actually an investor because I believe in the products.”
Now, let me say this… I have NO problem with people referring people and getting commissions or promoting companies in which they believe, but I kind of feel like when those referrals sit at the center of your day to day activities and are based upon the trust that a patient puts in you, you MUST disclose that relationship.
It’s great that he believes in the product and invests in the company, but the fact is, he didn’t tell me.
And, so I wonder: “did I really need it? How do I know if I really needed it?”
He said, “well, you haven’t been back here, so I guessed it is working for you.”
Of course, that’s not the point at all.
The point is…the trust which I had placed in him is now called into question.
Did he prescribe the $130 medication because I needed it or because there was something in it for him?
Interestingly enough, I blogged about an experience in his office where I observed his interaction with a Cialis sales rep.
My first analysis was that she was attempting to manipulate him (see post here: http://jer979.com/igniting-the-revolution/cialis/). Now, I am curious if he knows how to play the game and somehow benefits from all of this.
For all I know, he’s the greatest Urologist of all time. Maybe it was an honest mistake. I really have no way of knowing and the point is NOT to say “he’s evil, this is malpractice.”
But I do know how I feel.
I’m upset that I feel like my trust was taken for granted.
And I’m upset that the Dr. and his staff didn’t seem to take my concerns too seriously.
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