Dr. Dan O'Rourke
Associate Professor
Department of Communication Studies
Americans
are fortunate to have access to some the finest medical professionals and
facilities in the world. Combined with government oversight agencies and
independent researchers to test medical products for safety, we are afforded a
great deal of confidence when we go to the medical cabinets in our homes. A
recent story by Pro Publica, a non-profit investigative journalism agency, in
cooperation with the National Public Radio program, This American Life, however, warns us that we must be ever vigilant
as consumers of over the counter medicines.
Three
years ago in 2010, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that more than
300 people (321) died from acetaminophen toxicity. Acetaminophen is the active
drug found in Tylenol, which is one of the reasons this finding was so
startling. In 1982, someone tampered with and poisoned bottles of Tylenol in
the Chicago area. (content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1878063.html)
The makers of the product acted decisively and withdrew millions of bottles of
the medicine from the shelves at great cost to the product company. Since that
time, Tylenol has benefited from the public perception that it is one of the
safest products on the market. Advertising campaigns for the medicine echoed
this perception and declared that Tylenol was the pain reliever that “hospitals
used most.” It was “recommended by pediatricians” and provided “safe, fast,
pain relief.” Ironically, this belief may have contributed to the problem.
The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been aware of the potential problem of
acetaminophen toxicity for some time. In 1977, an expert panel strongly
recommended that a warning be placed on the painkiller that excess use could
cause “severe liver damage.” Great Britain, Switzerland, and New Zealand have
required that it be sold only by pharmacies or regulated the amount that can be
purchased. In America, however, public perception of safety has negated these
findings. The FDA asserts that this has created a “special risk” for the product as twenty-five percent of Americans routinely take more pills than prescribed.
The FDA sets the maximum recommended
daily dose at 4 grams, or eight pills; as few as two extra pills has been
reported to cause liver failure. From 2001 to 2010, acetaminophen-related
deaths amounted to twice the number of all other over-the counter-pain
relievers. This is information that must be communicated to the general public.
A careful examination of the potentially fatal consequences of what may be
considered simple miscommunication between drug manufacturers, health
practioners, and innocent patients is at the heart of this issue. Once again,
we see a need for greater consumer awareness and the development of health and
risk communication in the medical profession.
content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1878063.html
With thanks to Dr. Pravin Rodrigues for
his ideas and input
No comments:
Post a Comment