When my mother discovered that her oncologist was being paid tens of thousands of dollars to speak about a cancer drug — the same one that he had put her on — she became upset, confused and scared. Every time he recommended a medication or a procedure, she wondered whether he was picking a treatment because it was right for her, or because he got paid to do it.

At the dawn of managed care, worried patients wanted to know whether their doctor was getting paid more to do less. Now, as many doctors’ salaries depend on how many procedures they perform, patients want to know whether their doctor is paid more to do more.

Informed consent isn’t complete without doctors’ disclosure of how their personal incentives align with their recommendations.

Over the last two years, I have traveled to more than 50 cities and spoken with more than 200 groups of people about what they want from their health care. Two consistent themes emerged. First, people view the relationship with their doctor as the most fundamental part of medical care. Second, people want to make an informed choice when selecting their doctor.

An Australian study found that most people expressed strong interest in understanding doctors’ financial incentives, and more than 80 percent said that they would have more confidence in their doctor’s decisions if they were aware of potential competing interests.

More: Before the Prescription, Ask About Your Doctor’s Finances : Shots - Health News : NPR