I've used Darvon as a pain relief medication for my patients ever since it first came out. It has been reported in various news media Darvon and Darvocet have just been removed from the market in November 2010. Little did I expect that a product in use since 1957 would be pulled from the market at such a late date. It has come to light that it has serious side effects including: heart attack, irregular heart rate, & interruption of heart's electrical impulses. I wonder how many of my own patients have been negatively effected by this drug based on the limited information I have had about it until now. As it turns out, it is frighteningly easy to overdose yourself on this medicine
All medicines are Poison, including Darvon. I have always considered that the benefit of its use outweighed its risks and this was backed up by the FDA's own findings. Now we find that the reverse is true and the inherent dangers have caused it to be removed from the market at the FDA's own behest. I will now have to use other drugs that are not reported to have similar consequences, yet relive the discomfort my patients suffer from. Please consult your medical professional about the continued use of this or any medicine before changing dosage on your own.
Melvin H Kirschner, MPH, MD, Family Practice.
Dr. Kirschner recently published a book entitled “All Medicines Are Poison!” It discusses the sorry state of this Country’s health system and suggests how it could be repaired. Buy it here.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Promoting Single Payer health care in California
In California, single payer health care to cover all Californians is being promoted. The bill was known as SB 840 (Kuehl). It was passed twice by the legislature and vetoed both times by the Governor with the help of the for-profit health insurance industry.
Ninety-five percent of California nurses want single payer to pass. As a 50 year member of the CMA and a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, I have promoted “single payer” since it was first discussed, as do most of my colleagues.
When I was a young physician, most medical insurance was “not-for-profit” and the patient and I were rarely questioned about the necessity or value of my services. Now, I often have my fees reduced or totally denied. Each insurance company has a different set of rules and they keep changing. A single payer will have one set of rules and one payment schedule.
More than half of my colleagues and I would prefer a single payer system. There will be one set of rules, one insurer to bill and every patient will be covered.
Melvin H Kirschner, MPH, MD, Family Practice.
Dr. Kirschner recently published a book entitled “All Medicines Are Poison!” It discusses the sorry state of this Country’s health system and suggests how it could be repaired. Buy it here.
Ninety-five percent of California nurses want single payer to pass. As a 50 year member of the CMA and a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, I have promoted “single payer” since it was first discussed, as do most of my colleagues.
When I was a young physician, most medical insurance was “not-for-profit” and the patient and I were rarely questioned about the necessity or value of my services. Now, I often have my fees reduced or totally denied. Each insurance company has a different set of rules and they keep changing. A single payer will have one set of rules and one payment schedule.
More than half of my colleagues and I would prefer a single payer system. There will be one set of rules, one insurer to bill and every patient will be covered.
Melvin H Kirschner, MPH, MD, Family Practice.
Dr. Kirschner recently published a book entitled “All Medicines Are Poison!” It discusses the sorry state of this Country’s health system and suggests how it could be repaired. Buy it here.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Single Payer health care for all of WHO?
The recent passage of the Federal health care bill is not the wonderful improvement of the country’s health care system that it’s portrayed to be. It’s a tiny concession by the healthcare insurance and pharmaceutical industries. The legislation that was just passed by a thin margin may yet be overturned. Many Senate and Congress members have received “reelection funds” from these industries. Even if recession fails, these small gains will take years to implement.
In contrast to the just passed federal health care bill, the California legislators have passed a single-payer bill three times in recent years. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill twice. Californians are waiting for the next governor, Mr. Brown, to finally be sign it. California has term limits. That is likely why the industries affected, were unable to prevent its passage. (Thank goodness for term limits.)
The reason California was able to pass the bill three times is the large, very vocal, population in favor of single payer health care. Every major population center in California is represented by chapters of “Health Care for All” (HCA). This organization is the voice of Californians, many of who have been in favor of single payer for years.
The California Physicians Alliance for single payer health care (CaPA) is the voice of more than half of the physicians practicing in California. It’s now a chapter of Physicians for a Nation Health Program (PNHP).
Ninety-five percent of California’s registered nurses are in favor of single-payer health care. Many other health care professionals have added their voices to the drum beat.
People without health care insurance are inundating California’s emergency rooms. Many of these people cannot afford to go to a doctor. Statistics have shown that emergency rooms are the most expensive way to obtain routine medical care. Early, routine medical care minimizes the possibility of an illness progressing to a more serious stage that may require complex treatment or hospitalization.
In our country, many thousands of deaths occur year because of lack of access to medical care. The best and least expensive solution to this dilemma is a single payer health care system.
In contrast to the just passed federal health care bill, the California legislators have passed a single-payer bill three times in recent years. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill twice. Californians are waiting for the next governor, Mr. Brown, to finally be sign it. California has term limits. That is likely why the industries affected, were unable to prevent its passage. (Thank goodness for term limits.)
The reason California was able to pass the bill three times is the large, very vocal, population in favor of single payer health care. Every major population center in California is represented by chapters of “Health Care for All” (HCA). This organization is the voice of Californians, many of who have been in favor of single payer for years.
The California Physicians Alliance for single payer health care (CaPA) is the voice of more than half of the physicians practicing in California. It’s now a chapter of Physicians for a Nation Health Program (PNHP).
Ninety-five percent of California’s registered nurses are in favor of single-payer health care. Many other health care professionals have added their voices to the drum beat.
People without health care insurance are inundating California’s emergency rooms. Many of these people cannot afford to go to a doctor. Statistics have shown that emergency rooms are the most expensive way to obtain routine medical care. Early, routine medical care minimizes the possibility of an illness progressing to a more serious stage that may require complex treatment or hospitalization.
In our country, many thousands of deaths occur year because of lack of access to medical care. The best and least expensive solution to this dilemma is a single payer health care system.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Probems with medicines and other treatments
May 8 2010
The number of articles in the news media that report problems and withdrawal of medicines has become so frequent that I can hardly keep up. When I wrote my book "All Medicines Are Poison!" there was only an occasional discussion of these issues by the news media. Much of the medical and health care problems were conclusions drawn from my own and my colleagues' experiences. The book was developed from my own experiences and observations. I not only care for my patients, I cared about them. It became obvious to me that some of the treatments and prescriptions I recommended, caused no benefit at all or created more harm than good. My letters to the editor, interviews and lectures pointed that out.
MHK
The number of articles in the news media that report problems and withdrawal of medicines has become so frequent that I can hardly keep up. When I wrote my book "All Medicines Are Poison!" there was only an occasional discussion of these issues by the news media. Much of the medical and health care problems were conclusions drawn from my own and my colleagues' experiences. The book was developed from my own experiences and observations. I not only care for my patients, I cared about them. It became obvious to me that some of the treatments and prescriptions I recommended, caused no benefit at all or created more harm than good. My letters to the editor, interviews and lectures pointed that out.
MHK
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