I think we can probably agree that in most cases it probably isn't an immediate life-or-death issue. However, quite a few of the prescription only medicines have the effect of increasing morbidity, i.e. The taker will suffer from reduced life expectancy and experience unpleasant side effects.
I'm not complaining about health professionals in general, as I believe that most of the time they are doing an excellent job. The main problem lies with profit-hungry pharmaceuticals companies and the 'Pill For Every Ill' approach. Examples of this:
Statins have been prescribed to huge numbers of people, yet the latest research (involving over 2 million patients) shows that for every 271 people that were protected from heart disease, another 443 suffered from serious side effects. These effects included liver dysfunction, kidney failure, cataracts and muscle weakness. Everyone is going to die sooner or later, but the bottom line is; will the medications being prescribed hasten that point in time?
Ritalin prescriptions have been used to treat Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in children. This is the equivalent of giving amphetamines or cocaine to children as young as two. In recent years prescriptions have increased tenfold (55000 children in 2006), although research suggests there is no long term benefit and various undesirable side effects (including suicide).
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