IT'S GETTING SCARY OUT THERE

In the UK the health bureaucrats have the doctors by the scruff of the neck. If you want to feed your family, doctor, you will do things the way we want. We want all your patients tested for risk factors whether they or you agree. After all we own you and we know what's best for them and anyway they are our patients not yours. We want all those with risk factors treated even if they feel well and aren't interested and even if you, the doctor, have evidence that suggests what we are suggesting isn't best for your patients. We will pay you by results. Top pay goes to those who get 90% of their hypertensive patients' BP down to 140/90 or whatever. It will be the same for cholesterol, weight, waist circumference, sugar levels, mammograms, cervical smears and whatever else WE decide.

At the moment the government here in NZ doesn't have the GPs by the scruff of the neck - well so the GPs like to think. The end is in sight however and it is inevitable. The conclusion of the back room dealings which have gone on over last 20 years are finally paying off. The control freaks are winning - have won. It is coming. It being treatment by edict from Wellington. You the people shall die skinny, fit, with a BP below 120 and a cholesterol below 4. Why? Because its good for you and we say so. By obeying us you will have 6 months longer on this earth. The price you will pay for this will be untreated hernias, carpal tunnels, dermatitis and other conditions we deem not suitable for treatment. Also you will pay with years more pain and discomfort before we get round to fixing your knees and hips.

Oh Yeah! The People cried. Praise be!
Give us more leaders who know best.

You the people of New Zealand are going to have very obedient rule driven primary health care providers looking after you in the not too distant future - any with minds of their own will have walked off into the sunset. Look out - the advice you will get may well do you harm!

It's not here yet but it is well and truly on the way in the UK. Read the rapid responses at the end. Get scared!! Then get pissed off. Then decide not to have a bar of it. It's nuts. Not only are there philosophical differences there are differences of opinion medically and scientifically. The perfect drugs do not exist.

Obedience of thought is not a sign of good health! It's a sickness!!

How long has this drug been tested for doctor? Has it been tested against placebo? No - then all you know is that it's better than drug Y. Can you guarantee me either is better than nothing? What is the NNT for harm and benefit? What are my chances with and without this treatment? How many years do people have to smoke for before cancer of the lung starts to show up. How many years has this drug been tested for? What!!