A doctor from the United Kingdom has raised concerns about an ongoing health epidemic he believes is “costing hundreds of thousands of lives” around the world. Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist with the UK National Health Service and trustee of the King’s Fund health think tank, warns that due to bad information from profit-driven pharmaceutical companies, doctors are inadvertently causing harm to their patients.
The issue, according to Dr. Malhotra, stems from the blatant prioritization of corporate interests over the well-being of patients. Pharmaceutical companies are spending vast amounts to fund and promote “research” about their products, which is often more like marketing material that gets passed onto doctors.
Pharmaceutical Industry’s Influence on Research
Many well-intentioned doctors are unable to distinguish between genuine studies and marketing, with institutions such as universities and medical journals potentially collaborating with the medical industry for financial gain. Malhotra calls for a shift towards “de-prescribing,” as well as full access to raw data from clinical trials for independent examination. This could encourage ethically driven pharmaceutical research.
Impact on Elderly Patients
The lack of scrutiny of the pharmaceutical industry’s marketing strategies has particularly severe consequences for older patients who are most likely to be prescribed multiple medications. A study by Medco Health Solutions revealed that 3 out of 4 U.S. adults aged 65 and older were taking at least one prescription medication in 2008, with 22% of men and 28% of women taking five or more prescription drugs regularly.
People over 75 have a one in three chance of being admitted to the hospital due to adverse reactions to prescription drugs, with a quarter of these reactions resulting in death. Research also shows that since 1980, drug poisoning has increased by 300%, with prescription painkillers being the leading source of “injury death” in the United States.
In 2014 alone, the FDA reported 123,000 people in the U.S. died as a result of adverse drug reactions. Global statistics on prescription drug deaths are less clear due to varying policies across countries, but some research experts suggest that prescriptions could be the third biggest killer worldwide, following cancer and heart disease.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
To avoid becoming a prescription death statistic and ensure healthcare providers heal rather than harm you and your family, consider the following tips:
- Be proactive in your healthcare decisions: Maintain your health to minimize the need for medical interventions. If unavoidable, take an active role in decisions about your treatment.
- Verify your doctor’s credentials: Call your state board of medical examiners or equivalent agency to inquire about where the doctor was educated, any disciplinary actions taken, and if the doctor is board-certified as a specialist.
- Ask questions: If you are unsure about anything your doctor is telling you, ask them to clarify in layman’s terms. Request details about any tests they want to order and whether they are necessary.
- Make informed decisions: Understand that doctors cannot legally force any treatment on you. Insist on obtaining information about your options and make your own choices about treatments, knowing the consequences if you decline.
- Share your medical history: Inform medical professionals of any allergies or adverse reactions to treatments before receiving any medication or medical application.
- Seek a second opinion: If you are diagnosed with a condition that necessitates major medical treatment or daily medication, consult another doctor to confirm the diagnosis or suggest alternatives.
By staying informed and actively participating in your healthcare journey, you can help ensure that you receive the best possible care, unswayed by the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on medical professionals.
