BMJ  2003;326:1302-1303 (14 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7402.1302-a

Head to head

Should drug companies be allowed to talk directly to patients?

NO

Wendy Garlick, principal policy adviser1

1 Consumers' Association, London NW1 43DF wendy.garlick@which.co.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Health care in Britain is undergoing a radical shift, with a series of high profile investigations (such as the Bristol Royal Infirmary inquiry report, published in 2001, and the Shipman inquiry, set up in 2002), changes in NHS delivery, and advances in technology. Traditional approaches are increasingly being challenged, and many people are becoming more involved in managing their own health care.

While health professionals must respect the wishes of patients who are content with the traditional "doctor knows best" approach, they cannot ignore the growing number of people keen to become more equal partners in decision making about their own health or that of the relatives or friends they care for. Central to shared decision making is the ability for people to make informed choices. To do this, they must be able to gain access to high quality, balanced, accurate, full, and up to date information as well as . . . [Full text of this article]


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