Hi Charlie and Nancy: As both a PWP AND a health care
professional, I am of 2 minds about this issue:
#1. I believe in empowering the health-care consumer
(patient), and knowledge is power.
#2. In actual practice I don't always encourage the client
to read the entire package insert, or the PDR, for that
matter. If you considered every conceivable side-effect
possible, you would never take even an aspirin. Hopefully,
health care professionals already know this. So, take all
the warnings with a grain of salt. Let me add that if you
suspect side-effects when starting a new medication, run,
don't walk to the nearest information source source AND get
in touch with your M.D.
After reading what I just wrote, I think I may even be of 3
minds re: this issue.
Carole H.
--- "Charles T. Meyer, M.D." <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Nancy,
>
> I don't mean don't read or look at it what I mean is take
> it for what it is
> worth. If that means stay barefoot and pregnant then I
> guess that is what I
> meant. You will note that some other health care
> professionals replied
> saying similar things about the package insert. The
> patient information data
> can be adequate for many people and the detailed package
> insert tells more
> than most people want to know. If you feel that you want
> to have that
> information then by all means get it but understanding
> and interpreting it
> is difficult for the layman. But if you feel you have
> enough medical
> knowledge to interpret the information included then by
> all means read the
> insert.
>
> When I was in practice I used to give patients package
> inserts- when they
> requested them- but usually I gave them a sheet with the
> common side effects
> of the medications I prescribed for them and discuss
> possible side effects
> with them trying to give them an understanding of the
> benefits and risks of
> the drugs.
>
> Charlie
>
> Charles T. Meyer, M.D.
> Middleton(Madison) WI
> [log in to unmask]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: First & Last-Name <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 1999 7:53 PM
> Subject: reply to ctmeyer re pack ins.
>
>
> > with all due respect:
> > your view of patients and package inserts seems to me
> on a par with
> "keep
> > the women barefoot and pregnant".
> > i think that what i don't know might hurt me.
> > sincerely, nancy spires
>
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