The Story: Patients taking beta blockers, the cornerstone of treatment for heart disease since the 1970s, are a third more likely to die within a month of surgery and twice as likely to suffer a stroke, a study found.
Dr P.J. Devereaux, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, who led the research, said the drugs had cost more lives than they had saved and their use in surgery patients was based on inadequate research. Guidelines established in 1996 by the American College of Cardiology recommend that beta blockers be used in all operations, except those on the heart. The advice was adopted worldwide but Dr Devereaux claimed that the guidelines were based on the findings of two small studies.
The Comment: Dr. Devereaux is exactly the kind of person we need in the medical profession and every profession and industry in society. People who are not intimidated by big companies throwing their weight and money around. They don’t give up when they feel the truth has been swept under the carpet in order to serve just some people’s interest. Devereaux is a prime example of a forerunner, and I think he should be honoured for his work on behalf of the people. What do you think?
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More Story here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1952818/
Betablockers-‘have-caused-800,000-deaths’.html