tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152270.post5268361689760048080..comments2024-03-26T12:23:35.307-05:00Comments on The Buck Stops Here: Useless Health CareStuart Buckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05731724396708879386noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152270.post-86928431889023571382008-04-01T18:14:00.000-05:002008-04-01T18:14:00.000-05:00Isn't the proliferation of useless drugs and surge...Isn't the proliferation of useless drugs and surgeries be inevitable consequences of a for-profit health care system? I write this as I look over a <I>Wall Street Journal</I> article (link by subscription only) that describes how Schering-Plough and Merck are "mounting an aggressive campaign to defend their $5 billion a year franchise for cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia against calls from leading cardiologists to curtail the drugs' use." Page B1, 4/1/08.<BR/><BR/>Interestingly, the recommendation to curtail usage is based on a study showing that Vytorin and Zetia are no better than cheaper statins at arresting the progress of disease in neck arteries, which the study treats as a proxy for the effectiveness of these drugs. Based on some of your links, it appears that the statins, Vytorin and Zetia may all be equally useless for actually preserving or enhancing the health of those who use them. But at least the statins cost less.keypusherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07176947522040838625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152270.post-9034263621419027952008-03-27T20:27:00.000-05:002008-03-27T20:27:00.000-05:00How about this Science Daily article: "Managing Se...How about this Science Daily article: "Managing Seven Common Conditions Without Medication" here<BR/>http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324202826.htmStephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316532532812129342noreply@blogger.com