IN THIS litigious age I get the impression that the Department of Health and doctors are being more cautious than ever for fear of being sued. This leads to “defensive” medicine, which may not always be in the interest of the patient. Or is it?
A news item in this magazine referred to drugs taken by pregnant women – for example, aspirin to reduce the risk of hypertension, or indomethacin to prevent premature labour (Â鶹´«Ã½, 29 May 2004, p 9). I showed the piece to Melanie Johnson, the public health minister, and asked her what the DOH’s advice is.…
