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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/04/gp-doctor-medication-de-prescribing>
"“I thought I was
never supposed to come off these tablets!” my patient
exclaims.
“Except when you no longer need them,” I say.
“Are you sure?”
His doubt drifts in like fog.
His advanced cancer has long had him feeling out of sorts – and, in his late
80s, he yearns for quality of life.
At diagnosis, my patient was taking an astonishing 17 pills a day. The original
culprits were those taken for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, gout, reflux and
anxiety. When he developed cancer, new doctors threw in extra drugs. Whenever
he was admitted with a complication, other doctors added more.
The discharge summary might have said “GP to review” but my hapless patient
barely makes it to his GP – and when he does, the GP assumes that the
specialists have things in hand.
His daughter and chief gatekeeper furnishes a list of medications – now 25
pills a day – and the dismay on my face is obvious.
“By the time I swallow my tablets, I feel too full to eat,” the patient
announces morosely.
It’s no wonder he feels full and confused. A cursory glance reveals that most
of his drugs are no longer relevant and, moreover, potentially harmful."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
