Policy & Practice

Patient/Doctor Decision Making

Decisions about medical treatment should be made by physicians and patients, according to a survey of 1,029 adults for the National Consumers League. More than 90% of respondents agreed that, “[all] medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, offer benefits but also carry some risk of side effects. It should be up to physicians and patients to weigh benefits against the risks and to make decisions that are right for them,” according to the survey. The poll also found that the public strongly supports broader access to treatments—even those carrying additional risks—for chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. “Everything in life carries risks, but in the case of chronic, debilitating conditions, the greatest risk is a lack of new and improved treatment options,” said Linda Golodner, the league's president. “It obviously makes sense for these patients to have access to as many treatment options as possible and make decisions that are right for them, even if there are additional risks.”