Citation

Kieve M. Qual. Prim. Care 2007; 15(4): 221-227.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Radcliffe Medical Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A British Medical Association (BMA) report Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions, May 2006, estimated that 250 000 people a year are admitted to hospital suffering harmful effects of prescription drugs at a cost to the NHS of about £466 million a year. This is based on a 2004 study of hospital admissions. The BMA report draws attention to a crisis in public health that is largely being ignored and considers how medical education is failing both patients and doctors. The number of patients suffering and deaths due to adverse drug reactions (ADRs), addiction and withdrawal problems is underestimated, often unrecognised and not well reported. Ignoring the problem is costly in financial and human terms. The following paper describes the importance of the patient experience and recommends the need for systematic changes in practice and education of both the profession and the public in the recognition of ADRs. The paper includes recommendations for primary care trusts to be proactive in encouraging professional and patient Yellow Card ADR reporting, and to remind doctors of their moral duty to inform coroners of possible ADRs that may have preceded sudden death, suicide or fatal accidents. The paper concludes by emphasising the need for good practice in monitoring the side-effects of medicines, in order that patients gain the maximum benefits from their medicines. © 2007 Radcliffe Publishing.

Language: en

Keywords

human; information dissemination; Depression; suicide; Suicide; aging; United Kingdom; suicidal ideation; depression; psychosis; medical education; malnutrition; suicidal behavior; medical ethics; rhabdomyolysis; isotretinoin; Pharmacovigilance; polypharmacy; pregnancy; alcohol consumption; article; primary medical care; analgesic agent; clinical practice; prescription; antidepressant agent; neuroleptic agent; health care organization; hospital admission; cognitive defect; continuing education; drug induced disease; fluoxetine; serotonin uptake inhibitor; tricyclic antidepressant agent; unclassified drug; patient monitoring; practice guideline; hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor; public health service; dehydration; sudden death; national health service; drug dependence; patient attitude; benzodiazepine derivative; seizure; drug fatality; medical specialist; drug withdrawal; coroner; pharmaceutical care; akathisia; medical assessment; corticosteroid; hypertension; financial management; hypnotic agent; patient counseling; drug surveillance program; heart arrhythmia; methylphenidate; QT prolongation; antimalarial agent; contraceptive agent; good clinical practice; central stimulant agent; teratogenicity; Side-effects; cyproterone acetate; cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor; lansoprazole; hormone derivative; ethinylestradiol; Adverse drug reactions; sulfonamide; diane; amnesteem; Coroners; Harms; Iatrogenic disease; Medication errors; sotoret