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Comment by xahrepap | Hacker News Reader

I’m still amazed at how many people are able to get their dr to prescribe them antibiotics just by asking.

I knew someone who had a cold and said “but I asked my Dr for some antibiotics and I’m taking DayQuil so I’ll be better in a day or two”

Im always left open mouthed gaping at them like… even if YOU don’t know. But at least the Dr should …

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US doctors have to do everything to keep patients happy. CMS rules their careers with satisfaction metrics. Hospital ADMINS really push it on them. Complaints lead to job loss.

Liability, standard of care, patient happiness, insurance compensation, and stupidity all come to my mind when considering why they do it.

The way it was explained to me is that the physicians know it very well but they're exhausted from arguing with patients who demand antibiotics anyway.

This is just weird. Not living on the US and people here take taking antibiotics seriously, because they often have nasty side effects like messing around with digestion, making you otherwise feel like shit. People don't ask for strong antibiotics just for a common cold or the flu.

I saw a Dr the other week (to rule out Covid and strep) and despite testing negative for both and telling me I just had a cold she offered me antibiotics. I declined, not wanting to be part of this problem, but was taken aback that she would basically try to push them on me.

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