Fri, 12/14/2007 - 9:04am

I totally agree that prescription medicine SHOULD NOT BE IN MAGAZINES OR ON TV!!! Not to mention the cost increases in any medicine they are pushing.
Henrie, Ithaca NY

Wed, 12/12/2007 - 5:45pm

Hopefully Mr. Campbell wrote his article with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. Hopefully, he is a humorist reporter in his usual public presentation. Hopefully, his point and seeming advice is meant purely as sarcasm and entertainment. It is apparent he does NOT suffer from a chronic ailment which would require him to pay attention to the various ads AND assume a responsibility that, according to his prose, makes him have to play doctor, at least to some significant degree. With diabetes, he would be responsible for determining how much insulin to administer to himself. Insulin can KILL if administered improperly. Yet millions of diabetics play doctor with their insulin every day and do so quite safely and effectively. When they go to the doctor HE asks THEM to tell HIM what THEY think - - - to play doctor and share their diagnoses and recommendations with him - - - not because he thinks they necessarily know as much about medicine as he does, but rather as information to answer his questions and curiosities without having to drag it out of them.

In today’s medicine, we see numerous doctors who haven't caught up with the newest drug or the recent improvements in them, much less paid much attention to the prescribing guidelines. In studies of knowledge, practice and clinical errors committed, a large percentage of doctors - - - especially those in general practice - - - are observed to be incompletely informed, insufficiently informed and have committed a frightening number of errors in diagnosis and treatment - - - partly because of being over stretched and unable to spend more time with their patients AND from not listening to their patients. Today, as always, folks who simply go to the doctor, voice their complaint(s) and then sit back awaiting the verdict/diagnosis from the doctor along with the treatment to cure it suffer prolonged illness, receive at least one erroneous or ineffective course of treatment and die in higher numbers than do those who are increasingly informed, not only about their conditions or potential ailments, but take an active role in their own care - - - yes even to bringing up information from TV ads with their physician to generate valid discussion and transfer of information between doctor and patient.

These days, we are obsessed with the concept of "informed consent" for treatment. Supporting an approach such as Mr Campbell advocates through his article directs us AWAY from any semblance of informed consent for treatment. It actually pushes us back decades in the evolution of practical medical treatment. It is dangerous and unreasonable. Granted, the average lay person isn’t going to go to the doctor and proclaim they have a bladder tumor or gall stones or a brain tumor. But, for the common health problems and ailments, if the individual doesn’t have some intuition or make some sort of effort to discern what’s wrong, then they will very likely die a whole lot sooner than they might otherwise. Those with chronic conditions - - - take Cystic Fibrosis, for instance, must at a VERY young age learn to play doctor with themselves, as they learn about their disease and help their doctor manage it to keep them healthy and alive.

After 37 years of working in health care, hospitals and intensive care to rehabilitation and home medical care and also with countless doctors, I can say with confidence that the vast majority of those I know would describe Mr Campbell as being the worst type of patient they would have the misfortune to encounter. Not only that, but a survey of those that fit Mr Campbell’s description of the kind of patient he thinks people should strive to be also comes with the caveat of being among those who most readily blame and sue when the doctor can’t figure out what’s going on soon enough, treat it fast or effectively enough and prevent their demise because of their lack of input and assistance in THEIR ailment and care for that ailment. So, Mr. Campbell does us no favors or service in his missive. Yes, medication commercials are a nuisance for many of us. BUT, they have been proven to result in countless sales and beneficial use for thousands of folks who, without them, would NOT have received the treatment and recovery in a timely fashion, if at all. The informed and proactive patient today proves to be the healthier and longer surviving patient in every study of every dynamic that accounts for the relationship.

So, again, hopefully, Mr Campbell was simply trying to be funny - - - kind of like Andy Rooney - - - right?

Mark W. Mangus, Sr. BSRC, RPFT, RRT
Respiratory Care Practitioner
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Christus Santa Rosa Health Care
San Antonio, TX
mark.mangus@christushealth.org