Mercers Disease, anyone????

I know this is true, but I also believe it is their responsibility to educate these people rather than placate them. Sometimes it's a simple lack of understanding or awareness, or even just impatience. If a cold lasts more than 3 or 4 days, I know alot of people will assume it's something "serious" that requires medication. They take the antibiotics, get better in a few days, and think it was the drugs, when in fact, the virus just took that long to run its course. So next time they get the same type of cold, they run right back to the dr again. The dr has the knowledge, and the ability to just say no.
I believe they are the front line, not the parents. Parents can't get the drugs w/o the scripts, kwim??

I completely agree, and I feel that working in health care it is also MY responsibility to educate people. I only reach the ones that end up in the hospital tho, not all the ones that go to the clinic.

Plus, Educating takes time, and Dr's are super busy, they don't have time to be educating everyone.
Also, there is no $ in education. and you know, always, $ comes first. Pharmaceutical companies give Dr's gifts for using their drugs too. There is a lot of incentive there for a Dr to just write the script and get movin on to the next patient. There are so many problems with our health system.

This post has been edited by PrairieMom on Sep 13 2007, 01:01 PM