Drug treatments tailored to match individual patients' genes sound like science fiction -- except, in a limited way, they're already here
“Some day, genomics might give doctors a way to predict with a much higher degree of accuracy which medicines you should take and those that be avoided….”
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/aug2001/nf20010816_538.htm
Work cited:
David Shook .”The Personalized Future of Medicine”. THE BIOTECH BEAT. Businessweek online Journal. AUGUST 16, 2001
Medicine is a scary thing. There are drugs out there made to help our ill conditions that sometimes do the complete opposite. Its more than common to find that someone is prescribed a type of medicine that they soon find they are allergic to or have a bad reaction to. My neighbor contracted an infection in his leg. After two weeks of treatment using penicillin, they found that the drug had caused an allergic reaction and had actually caused more complications. He is now in Saint Mary's hospital for more intense treatments. It would save many lives if the medication of the future could match our individual genes. Hopefully this science in the medical field is not far away.
ReplyDeleteThe personalized future of medicine is something that should have been in the works and not a future aspect! So many people depend on medicines to live, some absolutely needed and some not so needed. We as society are so over medicated and from this bring other conditions such as addictions, dependencies and lower our endurances. Yes, we suffer from some many genetics impairments that medicine is needed, that if we are able to cut out some of the trial by error work and not subject out bodies to these medicines then I feel we could have a healthier society! To answer my own question as to why hasn’t this happen sooner, well of course the drug companies I am sure have had a huge say in this matter. If we are able to cut back on prescriptions then they are the ones who will suffer and unfortunate health care is all amount money! It would be great if we could see this in our future and create a healthier non-dependant society!
ReplyDeleteEach person's body is different and changes with age. The ability to create personalized drugs to meet the needs of each patient is an idea beneficial to all of society. It will be interesting to see in the future we will be carrying some type of genetic ID card. This will require a new way of thinking not only on the part of the doctors and patients but the pharmaceutical industry. I like the statement Mark Levin makes "doctors will someday make decisions based on what's the right drug to take, not what's the most popular drug prescribed." Providing the patient with what they need is what the medical and pharmaceutical industries need to be back to.
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