SO many things of interest from yesterday's House Oversight hearing, but by far the most memorable one was Dr. Steven Nissen answering a direct question with a direct answer.
The question was "Would you tell doctors to stop prescribing Avandia." And his answer was "No."
Indeed, the good doctor made the point that prescribing decisions should be made by a doctor in consultation with his patient and based on the available information.
We agree. It was a considered and measured response -- and under oath.
And we were surprised -- considering that it came from the same guy who a few evenings earlier on Nightline compared Avandia to "9-11."
We don't agree about that. It was a response considered and measured to maximize media coverage.
The take-away here is that there's too much hyperbole and hysteria out there right now -- and none of it's beneficial to anything other than politics. Scaring patients and physicians makes nothing safer. (Unfortunatly, it makes for terrific headlines.)
When it comes to advancing the public health, better to rely on 4-1-1 than 9-11.
The question was "Would you tell doctors to stop prescribing Avandia." And his answer was "No."
Indeed, the good doctor made the point that prescribing decisions should be made by a doctor in consultation with his patient and based on the available information.
We agree. It was a considered and measured response -- and under oath.
And we were surprised -- considering that it came from the same guy who a few evenings earlier on Nightline compared Avandia to "9-11."
We don't agree about that. It was a response considered and measured to maximize media coverage.
The take-away here is that there's too much hyperbole and hysteria out there right now -- and none of it's beneficial to anything other than politics. Scaring patients and physicians makes nothing safer. (Unfortunatly, it makes for terrific headlines.)
When it comes to advancing the public health, better to rely on 4-1-1 than 9-11.
