| Many drugs that were previously available only | | | | headaches they seek the help of a doctor. But |
| through prescription are now available | | | | doctors are not immune to errors either. The |
| over-the-counter. Today drugs are so common | | | | Journal of the American Medical Association |
| and easily obtained people just assume they are | | | | reported recently that iatrogenic illness (illness |
| safe. After all, would multi-million dollar companies | | | | caused by medical errors or reactions to drugs |
| offer drugs for sale if they weren't safe? | | | | and medical treatment) has become the third |
| Wouldn't the FDA ban medications that could | | | | largest killer of Americans, exceeded only by |
| harm or possibly even kill you? Sure, if they knew | | | | heart disease and cancer. |
| they were dangerous. But the method of | | | | A team of medical doctors, lawyers and analysts |
| determining which drugs are safe and which drugs | | | | at Harvard University conducted the largest and |
| are deadly may surprise you. Many times the | | | | most comprehensive investigation of medical |
| tests are determined through the use of guinea | | | | malpractice and concluded that 75,000 Americans |
| pigs, which very likely includes you. | | | | are killed every year by medical treatment |
| Drugs are allowed for sale to the public with the | | | | through gross negligence. That is equivalent to 50 |
| assumption that they are safe. Then, once the | | | | Titanics sinking per year. For all their successes, |
| public begins using a particular drug in masses the | | | | doctors must contend with the fact that many |
| negative side effects will start appearing, side | | | | people become sick from either medical errors or |
| effects that can include dizziness, nausea, internal | | | | reactions to their drugs or medical treatment. |
| bleeding, blood pressure increases, heart problems | | | | Where are the headlines? The outcries? |
| and even death. Not too long ago there were diet | | | | And the number of deaths due to drugs continues |
| pills containing ephedrine that the public was going | | | | to rise. USA Today, on February 27, 1998, |
| crazy for. But ephedrine failed its "public test" | | | | reported that the number of deaths caused by |
| when it was discovered that it caused death. | | | | prescription drug errors increased at a rate only |
| Tylenol (active ingredient: acetaminophen) is often | | | | exceeded by the number of deaths caused by |
| used for migraine headache relief, but kills people | | | | AIDS. In 1983, 1 out of 539 outpatient deaths |
| every year because of the liver damage it can | | | | was due to a medication error (wrong dosage or |
| cause. Even Ibuprofen and aspirin, pain killers often | | | | wrong drug). By 1993 however, 1 out of every |
| used for migraine headaches, can be deadly for | | | | 131 outpatient deaths was due to a medication |
| some. Although the risk is small it is still a risk that | | | | error. |
| should not be taken lightly. | | | | Admittedly, doctors do save lives and help ease |
| The October 1995 Archives of Internal Medicine | | | | people's pain. They perform a great duty that |
| reveal the startling results of a study that | | | | should not go unheralded. But pain sufferers |
| reviewed the overall effects of prescription drugs | | | | should start taking responsibility for their own |
| on health and well-being. According to the authors, | | | | actions. Nobody is more concerned about your |
| "drug related illness" (from LEGAL drugs) should | | | | health than you are, not the doctor, not the |
| be considered a "leading disease" in its own right. | | | | nurses, not your neighbors. Search out and study |
| In 1992, about 200,000 people in the United | | | | all of the information that is available before taking |
| States died as a result of complications from legal | | | | a medication that could cause bodily harm. Pain |
| prescription medicine. This does not include | | | | sufferers should ponder both the pros and the |
| over-the-counter drugs or illegal drugs. | | | | cons, the possible pain relief and the possible |
| Incorrectly prescribed medications kill | | | | dangers of the drugs they may end up ingesting. |
| approximately 180,000 people each year. Only | | | | Deepak Chopra, M.D. in his book Quantum Healing |
| about 1,500 people died when the Titanic sank | | | | states "The frustrating reality, as far as medical |
| and yet this horrific and preventable event was, | | | | researchers are concerned, is that we already |
| and still is, world news. It changed forever the | | | | know that the living body is the best pharmacy |
| perception and practice of sea travel, ship | | | | ever devised. It produces diuretics, painkillers, |
| construction and passenger safety. But when | | | | tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antibiotics, and indeed |
| 180,000 people die, the equivalent of about 120 | | | | everything manufactured by the drug companies, |
| Titanics sinking each year, hardly anyone even | | | | but it makes them much, much better. The |
| takes notice. As reported in 1994 in the Journal of | | | | dosage is always right and given on time; side |
| the American Medical Association, incorrectly | | | | effects are minimal or nonexistent; and the |
| prescribed medications kill an estimated 180,000 | | | | directions for using the drug are included in the |
| people each year. This claims more American lives | | | | drug itself, as part of its built-in intelligence." |
| annually than crime and car accidents combined. | | | | "Is the possible pain relief worth the risk?" This is |
| Some people experience such severe migraine | | | | the question that you should be asking yourself. |