Summary: Prescription drugs kill more people, cause more problems and cost more money than heart disease since congress approved TV drug ads in 1997.
Prescription drugs killed 106,000 in hospitals from adverse drug reaction ("properly prescribed and administered") making these a leading cause of death. Journal American Medical Assoc, 4-15-1998.
outpatients were also killed, making medical care the 3rd leading cause of death. Western Journal of Medicine, June, 2000, p 391. This means 305,000 people per year died from drugs "properly prescribed," circa 1998. "1998-2005fatal adverse drug events increased 2.7 fold." Archives of Internal Medicine, 9-10-2007. If we do the math, 305,000 deaths in 1998 multiplied by 2.7 = 824,000 drug deaths/yr in 2005. This exceeds those dying prematurely (before 75) of heart disease.
Adverse Drug Reactions caused "116 million extra doctor's visits, 76 million more prescriptions, 17 million emergency visits, 8 million hospital admissions, 3 million admissions to long-term care facilities [often totally disabled]The total cost was estimated to be $76.6 billion, [now exceeding] the total cost ofdiabetes." Western Journal of Medicine, June, 2000.
"Serious adverse drug events increased 2.6 fold" from 1998 to 2005. Archives Internal Medicine, 9-10-2007. Multiplying the data above (1998) by 2.6, we have 302 million extra medical visits, 198 million extra prescriptions, 44 millions hospital visits, 21 million admissions to nursing homes, all at a total cost of $200 billion for 2005.
Congress should be told they are responsible, because they approved the ads on TV for drugs in 1997 leading to the 2.7 increase in deaths (824,000 in 2005), illness (2.6 increase in physician's visits and emergency rooms), and disability-- long-term care admissions, all at an increased cost of $200 billion.
Congress bears responsibility for enabling the drug companies to deceive this nation as they have done. The Truth About the Drug Companies; How They Deceive Us by Marcia Angell, MD, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, now teaching at Harvard, should be required reading for congress. She told 60 Minutes that drug companies spend $400 million/year contributing to re-election campaigns for congressmen and lobbying them.
Everyone knows that smokers, drinkers and gluttons have higher medical costs? Why should we accept the responsibility for their behavior and drugging America to death. The TV news sponsored by the drug companies, makes alternative healthcare practitioners look like quacks. SWAT teams invade their offices and wreak havoc looking for supplements. Is this "the land of the free, and the home of the brave"? - 14130
Prescription drugs killed 106,000 in hospitals from adverse drug reaction ("properly prescribed and administered") making these a leading cause of death. Journal American Medical Assoc, 4-15-1998.
outpatients were also killed, making medical care the 3rd leading cause of death. Western Journal of Medicine, June, 2000, p 391. This means 305,000 people per year died from drugs "properly prescribed," circa 1998. "1998-2005fatal adverse drug events increased 2.7 fold." Archives of Internal Medicine, 9-10-2007. If we do the math, 305,000 deaths in 1998 multiplied by 2.7 = 824,000 drug deaths/yr in 2005. This exceeds those dying prematurely (before 75) of heart disease.
Adverse Drug Reactions caused "116 million extra doctor's visits, 76 million more prescriptions, 17 million emergency visits, 8 million hospital admissions, 3 million admissions to long-term care facilities [often totally disabled]The total cost was estimated to be $76.6 billion, [now exceeding] the total cost ofdiabetes." Western Journal of Medicine, June, 2000.
"Serious adverse drug events increased 2.6 fold" from 1998 to 2005. Archives Internal Medicine, 9-10-2007. Multiplying the data above (1998) by 2.6, we have 302 million extra medical visits, 198 million extra prescriptions, 44 millions hospital visits, 21 million admissions to nursing homes, all at a total cost of $200 billion for 2005.
Congress should be told they are responsible, because they approved the ads on TV for drugs in 1997 leading to the 2.7 increase in deaths (824,000 in 2005), illness (2.6 increase in physician's visits and emergency rooms), and disability-- long-term care admissions, all at an increased cost of $200 billion.
Congress bears responsibility for enabling the drug companies to deceive this nation as they have done. The Truth About the Drug Companies; How They Deceive Us by Marcia Angell, MD, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, now teaching at Harvard, should be required reading for congress. She told 60 Minutes that drug companies spend $400 million/year contributing to re-election campaigns for congressmen and lobbying them.
Everyone knows that smokers, drinkers and gluttons have higher medical costs? Why should we accept the responsibility for their behavior and drugging America to death. The TV news sponsored by the drug companies, makes alternative healthcare practitioners look like quacks. SWAT teams invade their offices and wreak havoc looking for supplements. Is this "the land of the free, and the home of the brave"? - 14130
About the Author:
Richard Ruhling, MD, MPH is board-certified in Internal Medicine. He taught Health Science at Loma Linda Univ, 1974-78. His favorite book, "Health & Happiness" is offered at http://www.BestHealthBook.com as an ebook for $4.95. Dr. Ruhling is an author and conference speaker. His blog on Current Events & Bible Prophecy is at
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