doctor shopping

[ dok-ter shop-ing ]

noun

1. the act or practice of illegally obtaining prescriptions for a controlled substance from more than one healthcare practitioner at a time, concealing from each the fact that one is doing so:

   Doctor shopping and prescription forgery are common methods of prescription drug abuse.

2. the process of visiting one physician after another in search of a satisfactory one or a particular outcome:

   I did some doctor shopping before deciding on the plastic surgeon recommended by a friend.

   She had to do a lot of doctor shopping, as it was very hard to get a diagnosis for her rare symptoms.

Word History and Origins

Origin of doctor shopping¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

They may require help getting out of bed, taking a shower or going to the bathroom; getting to the doctor; shopping for groceries or making meals.

From New York Times

Cui Yang, a 31-year-old doctor shopping for a Tesla in Beijing after the recent price cut, said he was won over by "the minimalist interior style and tech feeling".

From Reuters

After years of addiction to painkillers, he was charged in Florida in 2006 with “doctor shopping” for prescriptions.

From New York Times

Authorities opened an investigation into alleged “doctor shopping,” saying he received up to 2,000 pills from four doctors over a period of six months, but he ultimately reached a deal with prosecutors that dismissed the single charge.

From Washington Times

Authorities opened an investigation into alleged “doctor shopping,” saying he received up to 2,000 pills from four doctors over a period of six months, but he ultimately reached a deal with prosecutors that dismissed the single charge.

From Seattle Times