As a profession, we doctors are guilty of exaggerating the benefit of medication and medical treatment. Instead of encouraging patients to change their lifestyle habits, we prescribe new drugs, even though four-fifths of them are copies of old ones. Instead of letting patients’ bodies recover in the course of time, we insist on subjecting them to medical procedures that give the illusion of protection while often doing the opposite. The gratuitous use of tests, unpalatable hospital food and the stressful hospital environment contribute to a physical decline which is a major cause of hospital readmissions. (Around 10% to 20% of patients discharged in the UK and US are readmitted within 30 days.) “One of the greatest threats to Western health” is “over-treatment” and “over-investigation”. When will we learn that – sometimes – it’s better to do nothing? (Dr. Aseem Malhotra, The Observer)

What Dr. Malhotra doesn’t point out is that a lot of the over-medication is caused by the fear of medical legal cases, especially in the US, where there are too many lawyers. Nor does he point out the cosy relationship between part of the medical fraternity and the drug companies. I used to work for a pharmaceutical company, and was shocked at what the salesmen were expected to offer doctors on the quiet. Were Epicurus in charge he would bring the pharmaceutical companies to order: any hint of inducements to prescribe should be followed by large fines.