Many Doctors overprescribe antibiotics. It is legal for a doctor to prescribe antibiotics when they aren’t needed. I have not found any cases where a doctor went to jail. However, doctors can be sued if an unnecessary antibiotic causes a dangerous side effect, but many don’t fear being sued. It is also very hard to prove that an antibiotic was unneeded. Patients should not accept antibiotics if the doctor says they are prescribing them just in case, as is a telltale sign that the antibiotic may not be needed. Overuse of antibiotics can cause antibiotic resistant bacteria. So, using them when they are not needed can lead to future problems.
I do not believe it is balanced. The physician as do the pharmaceutical companies benefit far more than the patient. Let’s say a patient goes to the doctor for a cold, and he or she is prescribed antibiotics. A cold is a common viral infection, which means antibiotics will do nothing for the patient. Yet, they are prescribed antibiotics. Their condition may come back or worsen. Then, they may return to the doctor again. More visits to the doctor mean more money for him or her. Then, there are the pharmaceutical companies that make the drugs. If patients are overprescribed antibiotics, pharmaceutical companies obviously get more money.
It makes me feel disappointed at the physicians that knowingly prescribe antibiotics for viral infections. They know they are not needed, but the general public may not. Some physician may really not know if the patient has a viral or bacterial infection. I believe if the doctor really doesn’t know if it is bacterial or not, he or she should not prescribe antibiotics just in case. I think the doctor should definitely know for sure if it is indeed bacterial. If so, then they can prescribe antibiotics. There are many tests to tell if the infection is bacterial or not. They may take a few days, but I think it’s better safe than sorry with possible antibiotics resistant bacteria.
(BTW this was a school assignment and I tried my best. If anyone wants to tell me how it looks I'd really appreciate that!)
I got a severe ear infection and a ruptured ear drum and had to take 2 types antibiotics from an IV for 3 days and as of yesterday I'm taking antibiotic tablets.
Lots and lots and lots of antibiotics. Yay.
Is true that antibiotic resistant bacteria can arise from the over prescription, but I will play devil's advocate here with a bigger picture:
1. After any major surgery, the doctor will provide antibiotics as precaution against potential infection during the healing process.
2. Generic antibiotics generally cost about $4.00 at most pharmacies and large retail chains. Some places will even give free antibiotics to get you into the store. These are definitely not the profit-makers for the industry that designer drugs are.
3. In the US, opportunistic attorneys will sue for anything, so doctors need to have expensive medical malpractice insurance as a precaution. These insurance plans require a strict set of rules to cover the potential lawsuits. Part of this is that the doctors can't take any chances with a patient's health. If there is a chance that antibiotics will help, they will be prescribed. Before you blame the insurance companies on this, remember that they have the lowest profit margin of any industry (about 2.5%). Most politicians are attorneys, so don't expect frivolous lawsuits to be blocked anytime soon.
4. A major issue is not that doctors over prescribe antibiotics but that people quit taking them when they feel a little better and have a relapse. The surviving bacteria are statistically the stronger ones that lead to the resistant strains.
atreyufan1500
08 Mar 2013 22:46
In reply to HullBreach
I originally was going to do the project on doctor's prescribing antibiotics for viral infections, but my instructor turned my topic completely around. I know antibiotics really help with a lot of things. I really should have done it on my original topic, but I didn't want him to get angry at me for switching even though he pretty much assigned me a topic I didn't actually choose.
By atreyufan1500
LadyGaga
HullBreach
