Doctors complain about patient non-compliance, especially the failure to take prescribed medications. It's even grounds for a doctor to "fire" a patient, according to the American Medical Association's Code of Ethics. http://patients.about.com/od/doctorsandproviders/f/Can-My-Doctor-Dismiss-Me-As-A-Patient.htm I recently read about a program to incentivize (hate that "word," if it's a word at all) patients to take medication by paying them cash. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/health/14meds.html?ref=todayspaper
I have a much simpler solution, particularly as it relates to women: Make drugs so that the number one possible side effect (and, better yet, if it's a promise) is weight loss. One reason I'm often reluctant to take new medications is that weight gain is always a possible side effect. Reverse that, and I won't fight it as hard. It might even lessen some of the medical conditions related to being overweight. Problem solved.
No comments:
Post a Comment