Researchers at the University of Michigan and Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System recently sent out a fictional case study to primary-care professionals at Veterans Affairs medical centers across the country to test whether these professionals would pick up on the medical risks associated with giving a hypothetical patient a number of medications. While the researchers expected the professionals to notice the overmedication risks of taking all of these medications at once, unfortunately, many did not.
Failure to Recognize the Dangers of Overmedication
Specifically, the hypothetical patient was described as being 77 years old with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and severe kidney disease. The medications that he was listed as taking included four prescription drugs and Tylenol for lower back pain. The case study—sent to nearly 600 healthcare professionals—was supposed to elicit concern from these professionals regarding the patient developing dangerously low blood sugar levels (aka hypoglycemia). However, approximately half of the respondents indicated that they would not worry about any harm to the patient based upon this regimen.
Over-Aggressive Treatments
Are we treating senior citizens with diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions too aggressively with overmedication? This study indicates that it is difficult to get physicians and other healthcare professionals to accept new evidence that we may need to “de-intensify” when it comes to overmedicating. Specifically, our system is setup to be concerned about failing to do something rather than doing too much, as pointed out by some doctors.
From “Undertreated” to “Overtreated”
In fact, new studies indicate that intensive therapy to reduce blood glucose can actually result in higher death rates. These studies indicate that maintaining very low blood sugar levels in patients can do a lot of harm and make these patients feel weak and fatigued. Although trying to bring blood glucose levels down tends to make sense for the younger and middle-aged individuals with diabetes, the problem is that it does not necessarily have that same effect on the older, frailer individuals who are more apt to fall and get injured from having low blood sugar. What’s even more alarming are the statistics: out of 211,000 Veterans Affairs patients, only 19 percent with very low blood pressure had cut back on their medications. It appears that we have arguably gone from undertreated to “overtreated.”
And it isn’t limited to those with diabetes or high blood glucose levels: Older Americans are also receiving too many colonoscopies, mammograms, and questionable drugs to treat dementia and/or high cholesterol levels.
The Alternatives
According to many medical professionals, vaccines can be more effective in protecting against health conditions that can give rise to other conditions and needing to take medication thus leading to overmedication; for example, getting vaccinated against pneumonia.
Let Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Assist You Today
Medical malpractice does not just occur due to an omission by a doctor or other medical professional; overmedicating people can have the same deleterious effect. If you or a loved one suspects that overmedication has caused harm, contact Harrell & Nowak today for a free consultation. We can assist you in determining if you have a case for malpractice.