If you should follow the advice of your specialist, then what is the point of informed consent? Clearly the economic interests take precedence, else the best treatments would be offered first. But DMF is extremely cheap and very effective for many, so why is it not more widely available? My opinion is ignorance on the part of sufferers and health services, the rarity of severe cases, and a lack of financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies. Every patient like me on sub $20 per annum drug cost is potentially a $20,000 per annum lost opportunity for the supply of a biologic.

Cheers,

Bill

(Tue-10-03-2015, 12:57 PM)Bill Wrote: If you should follow the advice of your specialist, then what is the point of informed consent? Clearly the economic interests take precedence, else the best treatments would be offered first. But DMF is extremely cheap and very effective for many, so why is it not more widely available? My opinion is ignorance on the part of sufferers and health services, the rarity of severe cases, and a lack of financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies. Every patient like me on sub $20 per annum drug cost is potentially a $20,000 per annum lost opportunity for the supply of a biologic.

Cheers,

Bill

But from another perspective Bill if all health services were to use a DMF treatment as first line treatment. Think of the savings that could be made by insurers and government funded health services.
Ok they may not be tolerated by all but a large percentage would be cheaply treated, saving millions of £

(Tue-10-03-2015, 12:57 PM)Bill Wrote: If you should follow the advice of your specialist, then what is the point of informed consent? Clearly the economic interests take precedence, else the best treatments would be offered first. But DMF is extremely cheap and very effective for many, so why is it not more widely available? My opinion is ignorance on the part of sufferers and health services, the rarity of severe cases, and a lack of financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies. Every patient like me on sub $20 per annum drug cost is potentially a $20,000 per annum lost opportunity for the supply of a biologic.

Cheers,

Bill

Hello Bill you have a good point about why it's not widely available, there is not enough in it for the Fat Cats. It's similar to Pet insurance here and in the UK they always ask if you have pet insurance, if you answer yes your pet gets all sorts of costly treatments. If you say no your pet still gets treatment but it's cheaper and in some cases better in my opinion.

An example: My Great Dane a few years ago had some lumps on his gums, we took him to the vet and he first asked if we had insurance. When we replied No he said no problem it looks like the lumps are benign I suggest cutting them out and sending them off to the lab just to be sure, he done the deed there and then and the results came back all is well. When I asked what about if we did have insurance he said I would have sent you to a specialist in the city.

Sorry going a bit off topic now.

Bill can I just ask do you have any free health care or do you have to fund it yourself or via insurance.?

Double post

Double post

Double Double post.

(Tue-10-03-2015, 10:58 AM)Fred Wrote: In the USA you take each other to court everyday over something, here in Europe you need to have a good case so maybe in the USA you are afraid to say anything for fear of ending up in court. Here if I tell someone to swallow a whole bottle of methotrexate with a bottle of Vodka to help them sleep and they do, then that's their fault for listening to an idiot.

I worked at a school and we had a nurse only part time. So if a kid needed an ice pack or bandaide when the nurse wasn't there, they came to my office. I had also a small emergency medical kit (with bandages and such, provided by the school.) One day a child came in with a splinter. The splinter was sticking out and easily removable so I got the kit with the tweezers and took out the splinter. The nurse came in right at the end and after the child left told she me I could not remove splinters as if there were an infection or something happened, the school could be sued. I said sorry, so only you (a nurse) can remove them? She said no, even she couldn't remove it, we call the parents to come remove it or take the child home...... so yes, the USA is really messed up when it comes to such things. (Kids with medical conditions at schools with full time nurses are different, as they sign a consent form for the nurse to be able to tend to them)

Just for the record, I've never thought anyone has led someone astray with any advice here. I just noticed the difference is all.

(Tue-10-03-2015, 12:57 PM)Bill Wrote: If you should follow the advice of your specialist, then what is the point of informed consent? Clearly the economic interests take precedence, else the best treatments would be offered first. But DMF is extremely cheap and very effective for many, so why is it not more widely available? My opinion is ignorance on the part of sufferers and health services, the rarity of severe cases, and a lack of financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies. Every patient like me on sub $20 per annum drug cost is potentially a $20,000 per annum lost opportunity for the supply of a biologic.

Cheers,

Bill

I so totally agree with you Bill...

If you have a question about medication you first call your physician and or pharmacy. If you are not provided an answer you are free to call the drug manufacturer. You should never come to a forum and ask the question first. That is socially in appropriate behavior here. If you have an answer from your pysician and want to talk to people who have done it, then fine. However, majority of people do not do this.

Mataribot, what is socially inappropriate is depending on your culture. In that sense and on this subject it is obvious that, although both democratic and western countries, Dutch and United states cultures are very different.