This is a good article in a recent New York Times (nytimes.com) about patients with many illnesses, not just one. A key problem is that these patients end up on many medications. Here’s an excerpt:
“Doctors know that it’s not right for someone to be on 15, 18, 20 medications,” said Dr. Tinetti, the Yale geriatrician. “But they’re being told that that’s what’s necessary in order to treat each of the diseases that the patients in front of them have.”
Here’s a link to the full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/health/31sick.html
Treating an Illness Is One Thing. What About a Patient With Many?
Brendan Smialowski
The New York Times
March 30, 2009
Thanks to online friend Joe Blanc for making me aware of this article.
Robin