When actions taken based on the perceived self-interest of individuals put the public health at harm, any public health program will probably be perceived as paternalistic.
The cavalier approach to antibiotic custodianship you are describing is exactly why we have limitations on antibiotic availability in this country.
Well that's too bad his post got deleted. While the following doesn't address all the issues [he has], depending on location int he U.S. many "express clinics" are popping up in convenient locations (like grocery and retail stores) that do not require an appointment, can diagnose common ailments (such as ear infections), write prescriptions (for such common ailments as ear infections), and are relatively inexpensive.
You're reading too much into my post. I'm neither advocating nor opposing the current model of who gets to prescribe antibiotics and how hard it is to see the gatekeepers (currently doctors). But I do endorse some sort of system in which there are (hopefully somewhat enlightened) gatekeepers. Plenty of miserable, painful infectious diseases are not bacterial in nature.
This is an issue that pits public health against the perceived (not actual) self interests of people who want antibiotics. Public health is not medicine, though it does guide medicine.
Also, "Fuck you doctor" is a greeting that I've never seen before. Hilarious.
I don't live in the US, so I can only tell from my country, that I think is even more what pisses you off.
I don't think, that every use of medicine should be regulated, but antibiotics I see different and I am really not amused hearing, that you can get them in fish stores ...
The problem of modern medicine today is, that more and more resistances occur. The reason is: Overuse or wrong use of antibiotics. That problem is already causing many, many deaths and extraneous diseases every year. The problem will grow.
Of course, the main reason is -- as much I know -- the use of antibiotics in meat production. But even then, when everybody would have free access to antibiotics, the problem would be worsen a lot, since most people even in western world are not ready to handle them right.
Ok, but the guy takes antibiotics, and the pain goes away. Seems pretty clear-cut, no? How long should he wait in pain?
I get sinus infections like that. They drag on for weeks at a time, I take some antibiotics, and bang, better in a day or two. Those weeks when I'm miserable have costs in terms of not being able to work as much, not being as much help around the house, not going out/seen friends, and generally getting less done.
Naturally, here in Italy I can pretty much see a doctor any day of the week, so of course I get them prescribed.
It is that notion in modern people "pain must go away, fast!" that makes things worse.
Because people think that way, many will go to hospital and get said: There is nothing we can do for you (anymore).
And wait some years, than the problem will widespread.
We are indeed really lucky: Only 100 years before, there was no cure for many diseases where we just throw a pill today. But we today just take it for granted and we gamble the advantage away. They day will come and has yet come, that nature is throwing back onto us.
I do. I also have pains sometimes, but I don't take pills every time. And when I have to take antibiotics, I go to a doctor. What is the problem with that.
Ok, in the US, the people oftentimes have no adequate healthcare, but that is an other problem in my opinion ... The US seems to be rich enough to handle it ....
