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Rapid response to:

Editorials

Overprescribing proton pump inhibitors

BMJ 2008; 336 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39406.449456.BE (Published 03 January 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;336:2

Rapid Response:

Old news.

Editor

The authors are more than a decade and a half late with this piece
and too timid in their scope.

BMJ. 1991 February 2; 302(6771): 288. bears a letter from me
recommending that not only indigestion remedies but a host of other
pharmaceuticals should be available on the NHS only when there is
objective evidence of significant disease.

Non-life threatening symptoms and disease should always be handled by
the NHS by way of assessment and advice but few, especially when
definitely, probably or plausibly the consequence of lifestyle choice,
should be treated at the tax payers expense.

If only I were Emperor all problems would evaporate as the dew in the
dawn sun.

Steven Ford

Competing interests:
Untrammelled delusions of grandeur in conjunction with raving narcissism.

Competing interests: No competing interests

05 January 2008
Steven Ford
GP
Haydon & Allen valleys Medical Practice