After doctors the overregulation also threatens the work of psychotherapists
In recent decades medical healing has been transformed into a defensive medicine, and psychotherapy has sat straight off, to do the same. For quite some time lawsuits and media criticisms continued to put doctors, pharmaceutical industry and hospitals under pressure. The doctor prescribes a drug; the patient reads the Patient information leaflets (PILs) and does not take it: he is afraid of the side effects. Exact figures are difficult to obtain, but experts estimate that about half of the prescribed medication goes into the garbage.
But should doctor or pharmacist recommend ignoring the Patient information leaflets of the drug, in order to not succumb to the negative suggestions of the dutifully reported side effects? Probably only under the table. Most bank customers know now too, how annoying defensive advice can be. I want to invest a sum of money, know exactly what I want and need but have to waste a lot of time with the formalities. My consultant by the “Sparkasse” [N.T. name of a bank in Austria] wants to document that he has explained to me all the risks involved and he is a dutiful man.
The friendly ophthalmologist told me that his proposed cataract surgery has a tiny complication rate. I look reassured toward the surgery till his receptionist hands me over a form which receive I have to sign. On it is written that I have been informed about the risk of blindness. I do not sleep quite so well during the nights before the surgery....