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Comments are welcome [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: Schaaf Angus / Meadow Creek Ranch To: Ervin McCarthy Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 1:31 PM Subject: On The MEdscape news .... LONDON (Reuters Health) Apr 03 - Half of the family physicians in the UK are not referring elderly patients with suspected Parkinson's disease to specialists and many are prescribing inappropriate drugs that can cause serious side effects, according to the results of a survey published on Monday. "Unfortunately, in their eagerness to help patients, many GPs may not realize that by initiating treatment instead of referring all patients with suspected Parkinson's, they could actually be doing more harm than good in the longer term," said Mary Baker, chief executive of the Parkinson's Disease Society. The survey of 400 GPs throughout Britain also uncovered discrimination against the elderly, who are more likely to develop the disease. "It also appears that the younger you are the more likely you are to be referred," Baker said in a statement. In the survey, 94% of GPs said they always refer patients 50 years or younger, compared to just over half (58 percent) who said they do so for patients 71 years or older. Eleven percent of physicians never referred patients who were over 81 years old to specialists. Fifty-seven percent admitted age was a contributing factor in their decision on treatment. Dr. Stephen Henry, a member of a task force that developed guidelines for treatment, said 95% of GPs routinely gave newly diagnosed patients the drug levodopa. Levodopa has been used for 30 years. Although it is very effective, in 50% of patients it produces disabling side effects after 5 years, he told Reuters. Because of the long-term complications of the drug, Dr. Henry said physicians should delay using it for as long as possible ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn