Fw: On The MEdscape news ....

[Ervin McCarthy <ervinmccarthy@xxxxxxxx>]

Comments  are welcome
ervinmccarthy@xxxxxxxx
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Schaaf Angus / Meadow Creek Ranch 
To: Ervin McCarthy 
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 1:31 PM
Subject: On The MEdscape news ....


LONDON (Reuters Health) Apr 03 - Half of the family physicians in the UK are 
not referring elderly patients with suspected Parkinson's disease to 
specialists and many are prescribing inappropriate drugs that can cause serious 
side effects, according to the results of a survey published on Monday. 
"Unfortunately, in their eagerness to help patients, many GPs may not realize 
that by initiating treatment instead of referring all patients with suspected 
Parkinson's, they could actually be doing more harm than good in the longer 
term," said Mary Baker, chief executive of the Parkinson's Disease Society. 

The survey of 400 GPs throughout Britain also uncovered discrimination against 
the elderly, who are more likely to develop the disease. "It also appears that 
the younger you are the more likely you are to be referred," Baker said in a 
statement. 

In the survey, 94% of GPs said they always refer patients 50 years or younger, 
compared to just over half (58 percent) who said they do so for patients 71 
years or older. Eleven percent of physicians never referred patients who were 
over 81 years old to specialists. Fifty-seven percent admitted age was a 
contributing factor in their decision on treatment. 

Dr. Stephen Henry, a member of a task force that developed guidelines for 
treatment, said 95% of GPs routinely gave newly diagnosed patients the drug 
levodopa. Levodopa has been used for 30 years. Although it is very effective, 
in 50% of patients it produces disabling side effects after 5 years, he told 
Reuters. 

Because of the long-term complications of the drug, Dr. Henry said physicians 
should delay using it for as long as possible

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