Do no harm

[glnamcgr]

The "do no harm” creed for doctors is considered a core principle of the Hippocratic Oath, essentially stating that a doctor's primary duty is to avoid causing harm to their patients when treating them; it emphasizes prioritizing potential benefits of treatment over potential risks of harm. 

Someone recentlly posted the statement "Doctors would never prescribe something that would harm you." As I read it, I wasn’t certain whether you were being serious or not. I can cite several experiences involving myself, friends, and family where the opposite is true. I have a friend who has been an invalid for 7 years because of adverse reaction to blood pressure medication; another young friend nearly died of anaphylactic shock because of an iron infusion overdose; yet another friend was given 10 times the amount medication he needed while in the hospital and nearly died. Whenever possible, question what is being put into your body! Never EVER take a medication without researching the benefits and side effects. Then you can make an informed decision regarding whether or not the benefits outweigh the risks. And make certain the benefits your doctor are citing are valid. Talk to other patients; join support groups such as this one, which is amazing! I was diagnosed with osteoporosis over 25 years ago and I have been studying bone health and bone meds since then. I am now a healthy 78 year old and have never been on a prescription drug in my life. I play pickleball and go to the gym several times a week; I ride my bike on occasion and walk my dog a mile or two daily, do yoga stretches each morning and jump on my mini trampoline a regular basis. I quit downhill skiing five years ago because I couldn’t find other ladies my age to accompany me; I still cross country and snowshoe in the park behind my home.

Regarding drugs of any kind: please be aware that clinical trial results that are published in medical journals are often exaggerated. A doctor admitted this to me. They know this to be true! Doctors will admit this if they are honest. Make sure you understand the difference between “absolute reduction risk" and “relative reduction risk." There's a huge difference and pharmaceutical companies are allowed to use relative reduction risk, which can make the difference between stating that their product can reduce risk by 50%, when relative reduction risk percentages (which are more accurate) can be as low as 1%. It’s a bit complicated, but I suggest that you study up on this.

If there are no harmful pharmaceutical drugs out there, why have hundreds of drugs been taken off the market in previous years? Why have dozens of pharmaceutical companies paid out billions in lawsuits to settle patient claims and been fined billions of dollars for falsifying clinical studies and scientific evidence surrounding their drugs. They spin the evidence to their advantage.

My deceased husband took a drug for joint pain for 5 years before it was taken off the market. It, of course, was approved by the FDA. It was being prescribed by doctors even though it was causing heart attacks and strokes in their patients. It killed hundreds of people, including a 17 yr old girl. The drug company knowingly continued to suggest doctors prescribe it to their patients. The drug company paid out billions in lawsuits and fines, but in the meantime, they profited $20 billion on this drug, so they don’t care about the harm it does to their patients. They still made billions!

Yes, it would be lovely if we could trust the drug companies and if we could trust our doctors. Doctors are only human and they make mistakes; they are overworked and they don’t have time to study patient records and do the necessary research on every drug they prescribe. I guarantee you I know a lot more about bone health and bone drugs than my general practitioner. Case in point: A doctor (whom i had never met) called me after reading my most recent DEXA scan, casually telling me to stop by the pharmacy and pick up the most popular oral bisphosphonate drug alendronate (brand name: Fosamax). I had to inform him that I could not take that drug because I have acid reflux. He had no clue of my medical history. It is ironic that the drug they previously prescribed for me for acid reflux, (which I also refused) is also very harmful to your bones. I was prescribed this drug, even though if they had checked my records, they would know that I had osteoporosis. It’s a crazy world out there! Please advocate for your own health.

[Fruitandnutcase]

So true!

[AmandaK]

This is one of the major issues that has been exposed in the UK. The efficacy of and interaction between drugs isn't given sufficient attention. There's also the lack of meditation review. My dear Mum was put on a high dosage of blood pressure meds when she had pre-eclampsia during one of her pregnancies. She was never taken off them, the dosage remaining the same throughout her life until she developed early onset dementia in her early 60s when a review was done for the first time ever. Too late!

When I told a nurse friend about it, she was horrified, saying that the BP meds were originally prescribed to deal with a short term problem and Mum should never have been kept on them.

My Mum's sister was put on the same meds. Guess what? She too developed early onset dementia.

Both Mum and auntie died within ten years of diagnosis, aged 70 and 71.

There is no family history of EOD (it tends to be genetic when early onset) so we've always wondered if it was the medication.

Incidentally, the BP meds were withdrawn from the market a couple of years after Mum died.

With regard to the concept of 'do no harm ', this seems to be a fantasy in some areas of medicine. The sharp rise of MAPs in UK healthcare and the evident misinformation given to MAPs by training faculties about their role demonstrates the opposite. Patients are being overtly put in harm's way. Yet the GMC continue with the practice, and want to expand it, despite vigorous objections by doctors and patients.

So between the prescription of inappropriate meds, the lack of attention re meds interaction, the sloppiness of doctors not checking a person's personal situation, and the rise of MAPs, it would seem that the Hippocratic Oath is being well and truly flouted.

[CinnamonRose]

I wrote that reply, I live in the UK. I notice you're in the USA

I'm not saying that nobody would suffer adverse side affects from drugs, unfortunately there's no way of telling when adrug is given to a patient how they're going to react, but I do believe in the UK that drs would not prescribe a drug unless they thought it would help.

The drs here aren't driven by the big pharma as they don't get paid the way they do in America. Drs in UK don't have to compete for customers/patients.

I've friends and relations in USA and to be honest it sounds pretty ghastly!!

We moan about the NHS here, it's become a national pass-time! But as a rule it's pretty good at making sure treatments are good.

[glnamcgr in reply to CinnamonRose]

Hi CinnamonRose (my favorite spice and flower)

Yes, our health care system in the US has many shortcomings, and hopefully most people can trust their doctors and be assured that they would not knowingly offer them drugs that could be harmful. My latest post “Do no harm” stems from getting older and more cynical. At a time when I need a knowledgeable, sympathetic doctor, all I get is shame and pressure for not taking their advice. When I left the endocrinologist’s office a few weeks ago, the doctor said to me “I’m sorry I couldn’t convince you to begin treatment” when a more appropriate parting statement would have been, “I respect your right to make decisions regarding your own health and I wish you well.” I hope you’re right, that most doctors would not give you meds that would harm you, but it has been revealed to me over and over again, that many of them are uninformed about health issues and the drugs they are prescribing. My GP failed to disclose even the most prevalent side effects that osteoporosis drugs can cause, not to mention the dozens that are possible. Is it that they are sorely uninformed or is it that prescripting drugs require follow-up visits. Bottom line: know your doctor, know the drug options, ask questions, talk to others w the same condition, then you are better equipped to make the decision that is best for you and your body.

[CinnamonRose]

To be honest in a way, the US way of doing it s seems rather scary! How do you know where to go and who to go to?

Are hospitals like Mayo or John Hopkins more expensive for treatment?

We've been with the same surgery for over 30 years, and the children and the grandchildren have the same Dr.

I realise that a lot of patients in UK are not so fortunate in the big cities but in the small country market towns it's the norm to have a family dr.

You see the same Dr each time you go, that way they build up a picture of you.

My Dr knew that I never saw her unless I had a good reason, so it meant she took me seriously.

Many people in UK have been let down by the health service but I can only say that although it's rather slow, they are very thorough and good.

I hope you can find someone to help you that you trust xxx