Medical Fraud - 2140 Words

MEDICAL FRAUD In this abstract, I will explain the specifics of my research and a detailed outline of my paper. Understanding the topic of medical fraud and off labeling is important, especially for consumers who participate in the use of prescription drugs. It is imperative to understand what your doctor is prescribing and knowing the specific uses of said drug. Off labeling may occur and recognizing this fact will only benefit a wise consumer and make them aware of the risks of using a drug that was prescribed for a uses not on the label. This topic is especially important during the time of new Healthcare reform. Although it seems like we should be able to trust our doctors and believe what they tell us and the drugs they approve†¦show more content†¦While it would seem to be illegal to keep medical information from a patient, doctors are not required to tell a patient that a drug is being used off label. (Findlaw, 2009) A big example of what off labeling would be Aspirin, though not as seemingly harmful as other drugs could be. While aspirin has been a common pain reliever for more than 100 years, in 1988 doctors began recommending its use in preventing heart attacks. Many drugs are found to remedy ailments other than those they were originally intended to treat, and as prescription drug use has soared, patients are increasingly taking them for off label purposes. (Findlaw, 2009) With all of the off label drug use comes a lot of controversy as well. While it’s understood that prescribing a drug for off label use is not considered illegal, the debate lies within whether the benefits outweigh the risk. So what can be risky about off labeling? Doctors emphasize that off label prescribing has its place in medical practice, but they also admit that using a drug off label can raise the risk of lawsuits should a patient have unwanted or bad side effects. In The Journal of Law, Medicine Ethics, Joel Frader, MD states that Off-label prescribing can expose patients to risky and ineffective treatments(Vucci, 2009). In his further opinion, Frader emphasizes that although some off-label therapies can be beneficial and even lifesaving for some patients, in most cases, there isShow MoreRelatedMedical Fraud And The United States1004 Words   |  5 Pages Medical fraud and abuse is a huge contributing factor in the rise of healthcare costs in the United States. Although there are many definitions of fraud and abuse, according to Cigna and HIPPA, medical fraud is when there is false representation of a substance, device or a therapeutic system as a way of being beneficial in treating a medical condition, diagnosing a disease, or maintaining a state of health. Medical Abuse is defined ‘as any action that intentionally harms or injures another person’Read MoreStatistics Of Medicaid Fraud That Will Shock You1285 Words   |  6 PagesStatistics of Medicaid Fraud That Will Shock You 1. In May of 2014, some 107 healthcare providers including doctors and nurses were arrested in several cities. These ones were charged with cheating the programs out of some $452 million in funds. 2. In 2010 federal officials arrested some 94 people who had filed false claims through Medicare and Medicaid, for a total of $251 million in fraudulent claims. 3. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force was formed by federal officials in 2007. The group visitedRead MoreThe Australian Competition And Commission V Vassallo795 Words   |  4 Pagesaffects of cyber crime on individuals involved. Advances in technology have enabled new ways to commit fraud online. Criminals are using new and complex techniques to commit fraud which often result in financial loss towards individuals. 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