Genetic Science is Brilliant – Can We Afford it?

The prospects for the application of pharmacogenomic science for improving health care appear to be exciting, and it should be recognized rightly for its clinical applicability. Notwithstanding, the use of these techniques needs to be viewed in context. When people can reliably access safe and effective medicines at an affordable cost and with consistent support from pharmacists to ensure the outcomes are optimized and the prospect of iatrogenic disease is minimized, then there is no doubt that the wider adoption of these techniques needs to be embraced with enthusiasm.

Bayesian Tragedy and Categorical Medical Error in Prostate Cancer

The Bayesian concept is complex and contrary to intuition, but it is fundamental in the practice of medicine as well as in biotechnological development. We expect that a tragedy of ignoring the Bayesian concept will result clear to the reader who should acquire the tools to recognize its meaning, as well as, its use; but especially, to visualize the serious consequences of ignoring it. The physician is not mystically fascinated for knowing what percentage of patients who has prostate cancer have no symptoms (47%), urinary frequency (38%), urinary urgency (10%), decreased urine stream (23%) or hematuria (1.4%). What the physician and every patient want and vitally need to know is the probability of having prostate cancer, giving that he has one or more of those symptoms. Keywords: Medical Errors; Iatrogenic disease; Sensitivity and specificity; Diagnostic Techniques and procedures