Question Three Responses, Bioethics Center at the University of Minnesota

Center for Bioethics - University of Minnesota [pharmaceuticals]

Should doctors get paid a bonus if their diabetic patients have well controlled blood sugar? Blood pressure? Cholesterol? Don't smoke? Take daily aspirin? Why or why not?

410 people responded: 26% = YES    73% = NO    1% = UNSURE

Comments:
  • No, most patients are in control of their own situations. I do believe certain doctors may push harder than others but, in all fairness, it is what the patient does with their well - being, not the doctor.

  • No because there are a number of other reasons and variable that could affect patients differently. The fact that they do not smoke does not depend on the doctor.

  • Yes, in my opinion it means that the doctors have done a good job with education and medicine.

  • No, doctors should get paid for doing their job, nothing extra.

  • Yes, they are encouraging healthy behavior.

  • Their patients are keeping the costs down.

  • No because doctors are getting paid to do their jobs.

  • No, some patients have better health than others; that’s not the doctor’s fault.

  • No though the physician influences what a patient does, a patient is responsible for his/her own health.

  • Absolutely Not. The doctors shouldn't be the ones getting a bonus. How about the patient receiving a discount for following plan of care?

  • Yes it would promote teaching and motivating patient to improve their health as well as better medical care.

  • Yes, because in the end it will cost less to insure everyone and health insurance will go down.

  • No, doctors cannot control their patient's heredity or lifestyle, so they can't ensure a bonus for their patients hard work.

  • I think doctors should receive bonuses for patients improved health. This system works well in many other foreign countries and their health care system is ranked higher than ours.

  • No, why should Doctors get bonuses for doing their job. Maybe patients should get a bonus like free healthcare for maintaining.

  • Its part of their profession.

  • As this would reinforce good preventative practice - reduce costs and improve health.


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Last modified on Monday Nov 05, 2007

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