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Stephanie you're absolutely right that they have in the past over prescribed drugs and particularly antibiotics. When I first came here I told my doctor no antibiotics unless I'm dying! because my father, the doctor, had trained us to not take antibiotics unless absolutely necessary and in fact didn't believe a pill or a shot was the answer for most things and many of his American patients wanted antibiotics for skin problems (pimples) and diet pills and.... Now here in France they are prescribing less drugs. I remember years ago when I stayed overnight in hospital (I wanted to just go in the morning and home at night but they don't trust you not to eat or be on time!), the woman in the next bed was asked if she took sleeping pills and yes she took them every night!!! I was shocked but the sleeping pills I've been given here - which I rarely take - are mild and have no hang over affect. Still every night!!!! They need to prescribe less drugs but my doctor only prescribes my cancer related drugs plus some calcium D3 and Magnesium B6. I do think the idea here is to get the patient in to see a doctor before the problem becomes severe.
I hope the US finds a solution. After all when many people are not insured or don't have health care access, everyone is at risk of those people getting some deadly communicable disease (such as tuberculosis or worse) and it effecting a large population. If the US doesn't come up with a solution, I hope California will.
However right now we have to hope we aren't headed into a worldwide depression.
stay well and be happy
sarah
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