Report Pushes Less Use of Medicines

Doctors should prescribe drugs to their patients less often, and with more care, a new report proposes. And they should favor medicines that are time-tested and known to be safe, the report says. The report is from the Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice. The center is based at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Medicines can cause side effects. They also can cause problems when they interact with each other. Often, other treatments can help as much as drugs, or more, the report says. These might include exercise, physical therapy or diet changes. The report urges doctors to practice conservative prescribing. This means they should think carefully about side effects and alternatives before prescribing a drug. They are urged to be especially cautious about new drugs. And they should explain to patients why this approach might be better for their health.