Over-the-Counter Genetic Tests, Patients Give False Information, and Caffeine Makes Everything Tastes Better
Genetic tests to hit drugstore shelves. Experts don’t like it.
Patients give false information in emergency rooms: “Only 42 percent could be successfully contacted using the number provided [and] nearly 28 percent of the patients gave wrong or disconnected numbers.” (HT to KevinMD.com)
Everything tastes better with caffeine. Especially when you’re caffeine-deprived.
I already knew that everything tastes better with caffeine.
The FDA is publicly announcing plans to harass Walgreens. See the article here: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64A5XK20100512?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FhealthNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Health+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
Do you suppose that a lot of people give false information in the emergency room because they are in the country illegally?
Vicki, also they may be people who do not intend to pay their medical bill.
Intentionally leaving bogus contact information, for the specific purpose of making it difficult to collect payment, should be treated as fraud.
A couple years ago — Earl Simmons, the rap music artist known as DMX — was arrested in Phoenix after using a stolen (or fraudulent) identity to receive free medical care at an emergency room. He reportedly was trying to dodge a $7,500 medical bill.
http://fraudwar.blogspot.com/2008/07/rapper-dmx-charged-with-medical.html
Once again, the FDA is trying to take power out of the hands of consumers. If I care enough to do a genetic test, then I probably care enough to learn about the validity of the test and the implications of false negatives or positives. I think a $30 kit and a $250 test is relatively inexpensive compared to a visit with a genetic counselor and a doctor. I would buy it.
The FDA is going after Walgreens even though it explicitly does not have any jurisdiction over the tests that Walgreens is selling.
Coffee definitely tasts better with caffeine.