From Mark Davies, University of Queensland
Charles Medawar raises legitimate concerns with regard to proposed changes to
the law allowing “direct-to-consumer advertising” by pharmaceuticals companies
(28 October, p 45).
Another possible outcome would be an unprecedented increase
in patients demanding antibiotics from their doctors. Antibiotics are already
woefully over-prescribed for self-limiting viral disorders, such as colds and
flu. Surely the last thing we need is doctors prescribing more and exacerbating
the problem of antibiotic-resistant organisms.
Brisbane
