New Zealand pharmacologists call for direct to consumer advertising to be banned.
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Monthly Archives: February 2003
New Zealand pharmacologists reject DTCA
28-Feb-03New Age Mumbo Jumbo
28-Feb-03So how easy is it to dupe people with New Age mumbo jumbo? The Crystal Chamber purported to sell homeopathic crystals. ‘Thus, crystals that nature has “contaminated” with minuscule amounts of rare crystalline materials that are known to have negative effects can become beneficial homeopathic crystals.’When someone attacked this theory [...]
Herbs
28-Feb-03Herbs. Natural. Sent to us from Nature. Harmless? The FDA has today taken action to control the risk attached to use of Ephedra. “Although the overall evidence suggests that serious adverse events from ephedra appear to be infrequent,” said Dr. McClellan, “we know that such events can be very serious [...]
Digoxin in heart failure
28-Feb-03Post hoc analysis of data from the Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) trial shows that large doses of Digoxin may be harmful in heart failure.
Touring the promotional stands
27-Feb-03When touring the promotional stands of drug companies at conferences, perhaps you wonder what the representatives are thinking? Now you don’t have to:You can spot the experienced exhibition delegates a mile off. They are the ones who head straight to the stand that is giving away carrier bags bearing a company logo. They then [...]
Drugs adverts ‘reliable’?
27-Feb-03So are drugs adverts ‘reliable and accurate’ as the Director General of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry suggests? Or are they ‘not’? Hold on to your ‘hat’, but it would be perhaps best to maintain some healthy skepticism.
Thiomersal
26-Feb-03Thiomersal, a preservative used in vaccines and bugbear of the anti-vaccinators, has been given a clean bill of health [PDF] by the Committee on Safety of Medicines:
‘Three new studies reinforce CSM advice from 2001 that there is no evidence of neurological adverse effects caused by thiomersal in vaccines according to the routine UK immunisation [...]
Interesting article in JAMA
26-Feb-03Interesting article in JAMA today. Focus groups conducted with physicians and patients looked at attitudes towards disclosure of medical errors. Patients want apologies and emotional support from doctors, but doctors are concerned about legal liability. Although doctors wanted to tell patients about their errors, they often ‘chose their words carefully.’ [...]