The GMC: expediency before principle: Proceed with caution

doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7485.253-b

BMJ 2005;330:253 (29 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7485.253-b

Letter

The GMC: expediency before principle

Proceed with caution

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

EDITOR—When a new drug is introduced, three questionsmust be asked and as far as possible answered before it comesinto widespread use:

Does it work for the condition in question?
Is it safe? (Inparticular, are there any potential side effectsthat may beworse than the disease?)
Is it affordable?

The drug must also be compared with other agents and therapeuticapproaches, and supplementary questions asked such as who standsto profit and whether the condition is self limiting or potentiallylethal.

To some principle is all—that is, even if a new drug givesonly a 30% improvement and costs £10 000 per patient,it must still be given. However, that £10 000 has to comefrom somewhere, perhaps an unsexy condition such as leg ulcers.

Dame Janet Smith's proposals are like a new drug.¹ We are notentirely sure what condition is being treated. There . . . [Full text of this article]

Stephen F Hayes, freelance general practitioner

Botley, Hampshire SO30 2AA stephen.hayes1@virgin.net