doctor shopping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical (Medical, Legal, Journalism)
Quick answer
What does “doctor shopping” mean?
The practice of visiting multiple doctors, often without their knowledge of each other, to obtain multiple prescriptions for controlled substances, typically for abuse or illegal resale.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The practice of visiting multiple doctors, often without their knowledge of each other, to obtain multiple prescriptions for controlled substances, typically for abuse or illegal resale.
More broadly, can refer to seeking multiple medical opinions or treatments from different providers to find a desired diagnosis or treatment, sometimes with negative connotations of being manipulative or doctor-hopping to get what one wants.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are understood and used in both varieties. Slight difference in typical controlled substances involved (e.g., opioids in US, benzodiazepines in UK).
Connotations
Equally negative in both regions, strongly associated with criminal behaviour and addiction.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to higher public discourse around the opioid epidemic.
Grammar
How to Use “doctor shopping” in a Sentence
[Patient/Subject] engaged in doctor shopping for [Drug/Object].Doctor shopping is a method to obtain [Drug/Object].Authorities are targeting [Perpetrator/Subject] who are doctor shopping.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doctor shopping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The addict was known to doctor-shop across several London boroughs.
- He has been doctor-shopping for years to fuel his addiction.
American English
- Patients who doctor-shop often use fake IDs.
- She was arrested for doctor-shopping to get OxyContin.
adverb
British English
- [Rarely used as an adverb]
American English
- [Rarely used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The doctor-shopping patient was flagged on the national database.
- They investigated a doctor-shopping ring in Manchester.
American English
- Authorities are tracking doctor-shopping behavior through prescription monitoring programs.
- He had a long history of doctor-shopping activities.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in healthcare administration discussing fraud prevention.
Academic
Common in medical, pharmacological, public health, and criminology journals discussing substance abuse and healthcare systems.
Everyday
Understood but rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing news stories about drug addiction.
Technical
Standard term in medical ethics, law enforcement, and pharmacy practice. Used in clinical notes and legal indictments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doctor shopping”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doctor shopping”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doctor shopping”
- Using it to neutrally describe getting a second medical opinion. (Incorrect: 'I didn't trust the diagnosis, so I did some doctor shopping.')
- Confusing it with simply changing doctors due to dissatisfaction.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when the intent is to deceptively obtain controlled substances for abuse or resale. Simply seeing different specialists within a coordinated healthcare system for legitimate reasons is not doctor shopping.
The key difference is intent and transparency. A second opinion is sought openly for diagnostic clarity, often with records shared between doctors. Doctor shopping involves concealment, typically to obtain specific drugs or diagnoses the patient wants, not necessarily needs.
Often not initially, which is why many regions have implemented Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). These databases allow doctors and pharmacists to check a patient's prescription history, making it harder to shop undetected.
While its core meaning is drug-related, it can be extended metaphorically to describe patients who relentlessly seek different doctors until they receive a specific (often rare or serious) diagnosis they believe they have, a behaviour sometimes called 'diagnosis shopping'.
The practice of visiting multiple doctors, often without their knowledge of each other, to obtain multiple prescriptions for controlled substances, typically for abuse or illegal resale.
Doctor shopping is usually formal / technical (medical, legal, journalism) in register.
Doctor shopping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒk.tə ˌʃɒp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɑːk.tɚ ˌʃɑː.pɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly idiomatic]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone 'shopping around' different doctors' offices like stores, with a shopping list for specific drugs instead of groceries.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTHCARE IS A MARKETPLACE / MEDICAL CARE IS A COMMODITY. The patient is a consumer 'shopping' for a desired product (drugs/diagnosis) from different 'vendors' (doctors).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'doctor shopping' be INAPPROPRIATE to use?