Study: Many Don’t Tell Doctors That They Can’t Afford Their Drugs

— but they nevertheless stop taking them, according to a study recently completed by the University of Michigan and reported on at CNN.com.

This actually matters a lot, because doctors don’t ask if the patients are taking the drugs, and the patients might be embarassed to tell doctors that they simply can’t afford to take them. Then, perhaps, the patient just won’t go back to the doctor because they feel that they can’t be compliant.

I’ve seen that happen a lot. It’s kind of sad, though, that we need to have a study to drive home that the high cost of drugs and medical care that patients themselves are expected to pay is killing people.