doctor shop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Medical/Healthcare Jargon
Quick answer
What does “doctor shop” mean?
To visit multiple doctors, typically to obtain multiple prescriptions for the same condition, often for drugs of abuse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To visit multiple doctors, typically to obtain multiple prescriptions for the same condition, often for drugs of abuse.
The practice of seeking medical consultations from numerous different doctors, often without their knowledge of each other, to obtain excessive medication, duplicate services, or to 'shop' for a desired diagnosis or treatment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood and used in both varieties, but is more frequently documented in American legal and medical contexts. In the UK, 'prescription hopping' or 'seeing multiple GPs' might be more common descriptive phrases.
Connotations
Equally negative in both dialects, associated with fraud, addiction, and wasting NHS/healthcare resources.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to more prevalent public discussion of prescription drug abuse and a more fragmented, non-gatekeeper healthcare system.
Grammar
How to Use “doctor shop” in a Sentence
[Patient/Subject] doctor shops (for [medication])[Patient/Subject] was caught doctor shoppingThe act of doctor shoppingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doctor shop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Addicts may doctor shop to bypass their GP's restrictions.
- The system flags patients who repeatedly doctor shop.
American English
- He was doctor shopping to fuel his opioid addiction.
- States have databases to prevent people from doctor shopping.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in insurance contexts discussing fraudulent claims.
Academic
Used in medical ethics, public health, and pharmacology research papers.
Everyday
Informal use when discussing news stories about prescription drug abuse.
Technical
Used in clinical notes, law enforcement reports, and pharmacy watchdog databases.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doctor shop”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doctor shop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doctor shop”
- Using it to mean simply 'choosing a doctor'.
- Confusing it with 'go shopping with a doctor'.
- Using it as a noun for a physical store ('a doctor shop').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always explicitly illegal in all jurisdictions, but it is almost always against medical ethics, violates terms of service, and can be part of fraud or drug-seeking charges. Many places have specific laws against it.
No, the term is inherently negative. If you want to neutrally describe seeing multiple doctors for legitimate second opinions, phrases like 'seek a second opinion' or 'consult multiple specialists' are used.
As a verb phrase, it is two words: 'to doctor shop'. The noun form is often hyphenated: 'doctor-shopping' (e.g., 'doctor-shopping behavior'), but 'doctor shopping' is also common.
'Doctor shopping' typically refers to visiting multiple individual doctors or clinics. 'Hospital hopping' (or 'ER shopping') usually involves visiting multiple hospital emergency rooms for the same purpose.
To visit multiple doctors, typically to obtain multiple prescriptions for the same condition, often for drugs of abuse.
Doctor shop is usually informal, medical/healthcare jargon in register.
Doctor shop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒk.tə ˌʃɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɑːk.tɚ ˌʃɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He's] shopping for a diagnosis”
- “Playing the doctors”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone going from shop to shop in a mall, but instead of buying clothes, they're 'shopping' at different doctors' offices for pills.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTHCARE IS A MARKETPLACE / MEDICAL CARE IS A COMMODITY (with a negative twist of exploitation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'doctor shop'?