Numerical Methods for Decision-Making in Clinical Care: Where to Now?
August 1988
in “
Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine
”
TLDR Hyperbaric oxygen therapy shows promise for multiple sclerosis, but skepticism and funding issues limit tech use in clinics, and outdated single-drug cancer treatments may cause unnecessary side effects.
The document discusses the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating multiple sclerosis, referencing several studies that have shown positive effects on patients' cerebellar function and visual and brain stem evoked potential studies. Despite scientific evidence supporting the therapy, there is skepticism among some practitioners. The document also touches on the use of computers in clinical care, indicating that clinical staff have not been encouraged to use computers, which are often seen as competing with essential medical equipment for funding. Additionally, the document critiques a study on breast cancer chemotherapy for using single drugs instead of combination therapy, which is believed to be more effective and can have reduced side effects when administered properly. The author argues that patients might be receiving suboptimal treatment and suffering unnecessary side effects due to outdated practices, raising ethical concerns.