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EDITORIALS: Nicholas A Christakis Social networks and collateral health effects BMJ 2004; 329: 184-185 [Full text]

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Collateral health effects may be both positive or negative

Sanjay D Furtado   (27 July 2004)

Collateral health effects may be both positive or negative 27 July 2004
Sanjay D Furtado, SHO- General Surgery Torbay Hospital,Torquay, TQ2 7AA Send response to journal: Re: Collateral health effects may be both positive or negative	We as clinicians directly strive to improve our patients wellbeing. Oftentimes we are successful and our results are quantified by direct indicators of health outcome both in population based terms such as life expectancy rates and in more individual patient specific terms such as improvement in his or her survival. To gauge improvements in an individuals quality of life , though discernable to both the index patient and his clinician , it still remains a parameter that cannot be easily measured across the whole population. This editorial has been an eye-opener to the effects we as clinicians indirectly have on the network surrounding our patients. Perhaps the effect is akin to a matrix wherein positive health benefits to the patient could have positive or negative effects to his or her network of relations in their health , social and financial wellbeing. The same could be said of the ultimate negative outcome such as death of a patient which may lead to some positives to the web of people around him both in their physical and mental health being and possibly in their finances. These issues could be debated by economists and health statisticians , but, shouldn’t divert us from our primary focus of treating patients. Competing interests: None declared