Pharmaceuticals Anonymous

Monday, August 25, 2008

When the Cure is Worse than the Disease

"Mary wonders why the new young doctor she visited recently says to nearly every patient, after examining their throat, that it looks like their esophagus is being eroded by stomach acid and they need to start taking acid-blocking pills. He hands patients free samples provided by pharmaceutical companies. The patients are oblivious to the fact that if they begin using the drug, they may never be able to stop taking it without experiencing an excruciatingly painful bout of rebound heartburn."

One way to build an income in private medical practice is to hook patients on drugs that continually require re-examination, testing and prescription renewal. Article here.