Medical Disclaimer

Today I read another disclaimer typically assigned to every pharmaceutical information sheet or internet webpage. Instead of just feeling annoyed by it and then ignoring it I decided to share my concerns. Here it is in full - Disclaimer: This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for you. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. You must talk with your healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine. The whole thing is disempowering. Effectively they say – ‘We know enough about our product to bring it to market (not whether or not it can benefit you) but don’t think that what we tell you about it is enough to let you use your own judgement about it. Only your healthcare provider can do that. So if it causes you harm it’s her fault, not ours.’ While pretending deference to healthcare providers, who by their knowledge and training are able to decide on which medicines are safe and effective for you, the manufacturers disarm them by declaring that this information sheet does NOT include all information about the possible uses etc of this medicine. Are we to believe that with the introduction of each new medication our healthcare providers receive additional product training on its efficacy and risks? – Unlikely! The truth is they probably don’t know any more about it than you do if you’ve read the leaflet carefully. Generously I’ll acknowledge that one partial sentence is true – ‘You must talk with your healthcare provider..’ The BBC2 Horizon team recently produced a fabulous documentary on the effectiveness of Placebo medications which work even when there is no deception of patients. The very fact that they were being listened to, supported and knew that others wanted their best health is often enough to stimulate the brain’s own pain suppression circuits. In the future we’ll come to appreciate the importance of placebo in healthcare. In the interim we’ll go a long way if we can actively restore a genuine doctor patient relationship instead of the time driven, computer dominated appointment it has degenerated to. That feels better. Now that I’ve vented my irritation has evaporated. Our species needs to communicate – commune, community, communication all have the same root. I’ve just benefited from placebo without even moving my lips!