antibiotics and doctors in thailand vs usa

[thailiketoo]

Since medical care is the third leading cause of death in the USA I think Thailand is doing OK.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The most shocking revelation of her report is that iatrogentic damage (defined as a state of ill health or adverse effect resulting from medical treatment) is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer.

This seems to me to be nonsense, the link to the study that Kresser refers to is not found, I also have some serious doubts about Kressers mission in life but hey, that's just me.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The link works for me. But I understand your point. Better to attack the messenger than the message.

Well no, not at all, if the message can be reviewed and assessed independently then anyone can form a view, it's just that the message he's talking about doesn't seem to exist any more (for me, Firefoc under 3BBB). I really do have an open mind on these things but I do need verifiable proof.

I'm just trying to help but you could google, "

Medical care is 3rd leading cause of death in U.S.

[chiang mai]

I'm just trying to help but you could google, "

This seems to me to be nonsense, the link to the study that Kresser refers to is not found, I also have some serious doubts about Kressers mission in life but hey, that's just me.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The link works for me. But I understand your point. Better to attack the messenger than the message.

Well no, not at all, if the message can be reviewed and assessed independently then anyone can form a view, it's just that the message he's talking about doesn't seem to exist any more (for me, Firefoc under 3BBB). I really do have an open mind on these things but I do need verifiable proof.

Medical care is 3rd leading cause of death in U.S.

I can see the Kresser page but the link to the study is what I want to read and that's simply not there, for me at least.

[thailiketoo]

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals/

It seems to me after reading the first hundred or so references to cause of death in America that one would be a lot better off at a Thai hospital. I might get a few too many antibiotics but at least they are not going to kill me right away.

Google, "How Many Die from Medical Mistakes in U.S. Hospitals?"

Edited February 13, 2014 by thailiketoo

[inzman]

The bottom line here is if you are white, they will do everything in their power to get you in the hospital. They are run purely for profit. A poor issan person would be sent home with a bag of cheap pills for a heart attack, a Falang would be kept in ICU for a broken toe. Antibiotics ARE drastically over prescribed her. It is up to you to be in charge of your own medical care and know when enough is enough. If not, you are being irresponsible to yourself. Take charge of your own life people.

[chiang mai]

Sick people get even more sick and then die, sometimes they go to a hospital and die (many do), others stay home and die at home, the result remains the same - I have a cunning plan in mind to avoid all these things.

[chiang mai]

The bottom line here is if you are white, they will do everything in their power to get you in the hospital. They are run purely for profit. A poor issan person would be sent home with a bag of cheap pills for a heart attack, a Falang would be kept in ICU for a broken toe. Antibiotics ARE drastically over prescribed her. It is up to you to be in charge of your own medical care and know when enough is enough. If not, you are being irresponsible to yourself. Take charge of your own life people.

I thought that kind of thinking died out many years ago, where have you been!

[robblok]

The bottom line here is if you are white, they will do everything in their power to get you in the hospital. They are run purely for profit. A poor issan person would be sent home with a bag of cheap pills for a heart attack, a Falang would be kept in ICU for a broken toe. Antibiotics ARE drastically over prescribed her. It is up to you to be in charge of your own medical care and know when enough is enough. If not, you are being irresponsible to yourself. Take charge of your own life people.

Yes they really wanted to keep me in the hospital for 2 days for a broken toe.. come on that is over care to make a bit of money.

[BookMan]

Since medical care is the third leading cause of death in the USA I think Thailand is doing OK.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The most shocking revelation of her report is that iatrogentic damage (defined as a state of ill health or adverse effect resulting from medical treatment) is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer.

This seems to me to be nonsense, the link to the study that Kresser refers to is not found, I also have some serious doubts about Kressers mission in life but hey, that's just me.

"About Chris

My name is Chris Kresser, and I’m a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine."

http://chriskresser.com/about

[canman]

I have experience with sick kids and doctors in Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. All three countries over prescribe antibiotics, Vietnam the worst followed by Thailand and then Singapore. I questioned one paediatricain in Pattaya why he was prescribing antibiotics after he had just told my wife that my son only had a cold; the only reply was a blank stare. I had another "Doctor" prescribe doxycycline to a 5 year old in Vietnam, I nearly smacked him for being such a moron.

Edited February 13, 2014 by canman

[thailiketoo]

Since medical care is the third leading cause of death in the USA I think Thailand is doing OK.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The most shocking revelation of her report is that iatrogentic damage (defined as a state of ill health or adverse effect resulting from medical treatment) is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer.

This seems to me to be nonsense, the link to the study that Kresser refers to is not found, I also have some serious doubts about Kressers mission in life but hey, that's just me.

"About Chris

My name is Chris Kresser, and I’m a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine."

http://chriskresser.com/about

I get your point. When you can't attack the message attack the messenger. But how about the Scientific American?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals/

In 2010, the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services said that bad hospital care contributed to the deaths of 180,000 patients in Medicare alone in a given year.

Now comes a study in the current issue of the Journal of Patient Safety that says the numbers may be much higher 2014 between 210,000 and 440,000 patients each year who go to the hospital for care suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death, the study says.

That would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease, which is the first, and cancer, which is second.

First the study can't be found and now when it is you attack the author. Well OK attack the Scientific American.

Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published monthly since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. Many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein, have contributed articles in the past 168 years.

Edited February 13, 2014 by thailiketoo

[BookMan]

Since medical care is the third leading cause of death in the USA I think Thailand is doing OK.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The most shocking revelation of her report is that iatrogentic damage (defined as a state of ill health or adverse effect resulting from medical treatment) is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer.

This seems to me to be nonsense, the link to the study that Kresser refers to is not found, I also have some serious doubts about Kressers mission in life but hey, that's just me.

"About Chris

My name is Chris Kresser, and I’m a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine."

http://chriskresser.com/about

I get your point. When you can't attack the message attack the messenger. But how about the Scientific American?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals/

In 2010, the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services said that bad hospital care contributed to the deaths of 180,000 patients in Medicare alone in a given year.

Now comes a study in the current issue of the Journal of Patient Safety that says the numbers may be much higher 2014 between 210,000 and 440,000 patients each year who go to the hospital for care suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death, the study says.

That would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease, which is the first, and cancer, which is second.

First the study can't be found and now when it is you attack the author. Well OK attack the Scientific American.

Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published monthly since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. Many famous scientists, including Albert Einstein, have contributed articles in the past 168 years.

Clearly you did not get my point at all.

[thailampang2012]

In my experience Thai doctors are more thorough and will only prescribe when required and often tell you , you dont need pills and some medications you may already have from the west are in fact not required as its old outdated practice/thinking.

I would suggest the doctors in the west are more likely to be pressured by medical reps/companies than any doctor in Thailand would be.

Exactly. You beat me to it. The rush to judgement about everything in Thailand and the blinding ignorance (or intentionally selective memory) of what goes on back in the wonderful world of farangs is amazing.

I like how you defend everything about Thailand.. but here you are way of the mark. The ease they prescribe anti biotics here is totally different as in my country. Actually everytime you go here you get a bag full at a way too high price.

Not to mention over care and running hospitals like businesses is quite normal here. Even health care professionals from other countries think the same.. so i think you are out classed here mate give it a rest.

As for how good Dr's are.. I could really not make a judgement call there as I doubt Dr's are stupid here. Had some great Dr's but over care "especially in private hospitals to run up a bill" is normal here. I know that back home i never had to question the Dr intentions but I do here.

If you are from the US and never questioned Dr's intentions or diagnosis....you are lucky to be alive!!!

[bluebluewater]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

[thailampang2012]

I'm just trying to help but you could google, "

This seems to me to be nonsense, the link to the study that Kresser refers to is not found, I also have some serious doubts about Kressers mission in life but hey, that's just me.

http://chriskresser.com/medical-care-is-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-us

The link works for me. But I understand your point. Better to attack the messenger than the message.

Well no, not at all, if the message can be reviewed and assessed independently then anyone can form a view, it's just that the message he's talking about doesn't seem to exist any more (for me, Firefoc under 3BBB). I really do have an open mind on these things but I do need verifiable proof.

Medical care is 3rd leading cause of death in U.S.

I can see the Kresser page but the link to the study is what I want to read and that's simply not there, for me at least.

I may be an exception...but I "escape" from Medicare doctors in 2009 after asking me for chemotherapy, followed with surgery, and a pessimistic forecast of my future health, to move to Thailand and get cured using herbal products.....

[Rorri]

CharlieH, on 13 Feb 2014 - 08:27, said:

In my experience Thai doctors are more thorough and will only prescribe when required and often tell you , you dont need pills and some medications you may already have from the west are in fact not required as its old outdated practice/thinking.

I would suggest the doctors in the west are more likely to be pressured by medical reps/companies than any doctor in Thailand would be.

In Australia I MIGHT be given an antibiotic, here they gave me an antibiotic and 5 other meds, can't remember what they were for but some are for anti coughing, anti phlegm, anti allergy and you try telling me western doctors are being "pressured" lol.

[chiang mai]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

If it helps the discussion at all, I have faith and confidence in only about, maybe, two doctors/specialists in Thailand and that after meeting possibly fifty or more over a fifteen year period. It's a shambolic bordering on criminal scenario.

[uptheos]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

If it helps the discussion at all, I have faith and confidence in only about, maybe, two doctors/specialists in Thailand and that after meeting possibly fifty or more over a fifteen year period. It's a shambolic bordering on criminal scenario.

Can't disagree with that.

One wonders how they achieve "God-like' status afterwards as well?

[thailiketoo]

Clearly you did not get my point at all.

My point is that hospital care is the 3rd largest cause of death in America. This is backed up by numerous studies and scholarly articles over the past 15 years.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals/

Your point is to make fun of people and not discuss what I posted. If I'm wrong let me know.

[thailiketoo]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

Have you tried removing part of your intestine?

[thailandbeachisland]

So many times doctors do not know if the cause of your condition is virus or germs, in US they want you to wait to be sure and take antibiotics later if it was germ, but first you will be sick 3 days for no reason except that it is supposed to be bad to take antibiotics.

PURE BULSHOT !

I now totally agree with the Thai way and take antibiotics immediately to avoid behind sick because I have too much responsibility to be sick 3 days for no reason, and I guess that Thai do not want to miss 3 days salary just because science and doctors are too retarded to be able to know that you need antibiotics for sure or not !

You are eating antibiotics daily in the meat that you absorb and taking antibiotics 3 times a year even for wrong reason is nothing compare to that !

So as I don't eat antibiotics meat I can take antibio every time I am sick and everything else is PURE BULLSHOT !

[thailiketoo]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

If it helps the discussion at all, I have faith and confidence in only about, maybe, two doctors/specialists in Thailand and that after meeting possibly fifty or more over a fifteen year period. It's a shambolic bordering on criminal scenario.

Can't disagree with that.

One wonders how they achieve "God-like' status afterwards as well?

I had a nurse with me. I was having a cardiac event. Upon arrival at the hospital the nurse pointed to my chest and the doctor met us while they were getting me in a wheelchair. They all ran with the wheel chair to the ICU where they hooked me up to an ultrasound and cardiogram machines. They found the problem and operated immediately.

It's been a few years and I still see the same doctor once a quarter. I don't think he is a god but I really like the guy. He also did all the paperwork for my insurance claim in the States.

Is the medical education crap? No, of course not. They used high tech state of the art equipment quickly accurately and economically. I was involved with the Thai education system for a number of years and is it total crap? No.

Could it get better? Sure. Is it better than the education systems in Detroit or Washington DC? Yes.

[BookMan]

Clearly you did not get my point at all.

My point is that hospital care is the 3rd largest cause of death in America. This is backed up by numerous studies and scholarly articles over the past 15 years.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals/

Your point is to make fun of people and not discuss what I posted. If I'm wrong let me know.

Since u asked, yes you are wrong, again.

Your first mistake was to assume I disagreed with Dr Starfield's study. I made no comment on that.

Your second mistake was to assume i was making fun of kresser. Again wrong. I replied with a quote from kresser's website, giving an insight as to which way his view is slanted

Your third mistake was to link the AMA journal study with Kresser. The two are not related and you did the study an injustice using his website as the link.

[chiang mai]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

If it helps the discussion at all, I have faith and confidence in only about, maybe, two doctors/specialists in Thailand and that after meeting possibly fifty or more over a fifteen year period. It's a shambolic bordering on criminal scenario.

Can't disagree with that.

One wonders how they achieve "God-like' status afterwards as well?

I had a nurse with me. I was having a cardiac event. Upon arrival at the hospital the nurse pointed to my chest and the doctor met us while they were getting me in a wheelchair. They all ran with the wheel chair to the ICU where they hooked me up to an ultrasound and cardiogram machines. They found the problem and operated immediately.

It's been a few years and I still see the same doctor once a quarter. I don't think he is a god but I really like the guy. He also did all the paperwork for my insurance claim in the States.

Is the medical education crap? No, of course not. They used high tech state of the art equipment quickly accurately and economically. I was involved with the Thai education system for a number of years and is it total crap? No.

Could it get better? Sure. Is it better than the education systems in Detroit or Washington DC? Yes.

Hmmm, I lived in Detroit for many years so I do know the answer to that one, Cottage Hospital (St Clair Shores) or St Johns Hospital (Detroit) doctors would beat the pants off most of what's seen here .

But more to the point. Most doctors/hospitals here are OK with straight forward events, broken bones. lacerations. flu, etc. But add the inconvenience of complexity and the situation changes, what to do when the scans or blood tests don't give an easy answer, capable resources on that front are seriously hard to come by.

[thailiketoo]

Clearly you did not get my point at all.

My point is that hospital care is the 3rd largest cause of death in America. This is backed up by numerous studies and scholarly articles over the past 15 years.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals/

Your point is to make fun of people and not discuss what I posted. If I'm wrong let me know.

Since u asked, yes you are wrong, again.

Your first mistake was to assume I disagreed with Dr Starfield's study. I made no comment on that.

Your second mistake was to assume i was making fun of kresser. Again wrong. I replied with a quote from kresser's website, giving an insight as to which way his view is slanted

Your third mistake was to link the AMA journal study with Kresser. The two are not related and you did the study an injustice using his website as the link.

OK your point is, you sounding smart, but you come off as pompous. Did I get it yet?

My point remains, "Hospital care is the 3rd largest cause of death in America."

Do you want to make a comment on my point?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q82BMGTPUnA

[BookMan]

OK your point is, you sounding smart, but you come off as pompous. Did I get it yet?

My point remains, "Hospital care is the 3rd largest cause of death in America."

Do you want to make a comment on my point?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q82BMGTPUnA

Soooo...your answer now is to attack the person?

To answer your question yet again, No, you still haven't got it.

It is okay if people don't agree with something you have posted you know. No need to berate them and carry on like an angry goose.

[thailiketoo]

I have always wondered how it is that given the Thai education is total crap - a circus, a zoo, etc. - and is it possible to buy ones way into medical school here even though a student did FA at the undergraduate level, how is it that they have such brilliant doctors? Their schools at all levels are terrible but suddenly their medical schools are top shelf?

As you can tell I don't believe it. I think they are pretty much crap as well. I can doctor myself just about as well, maybe better, than they can.

If it helps the discussion at all, I have faith and confidence in only about, maybe, two doctors/specialists in Thailand and that after meeting possibly fifty or more over a fifteen year period. It's a shambolic bordering on criminal scenario.

Can't disagree with that.

One wonders how they achieve "God-like' status afterwards as well?

I had a nurse with me. I was having a cardiac event. Upon arrival at the hospital the nurse pointed to my chest and the doctor met us while they were getting me in a wheelchair. They all ran with the wheel chair to the ICU where they hooked me up to an ultrasound and cardiogram machines. They found the problem and operated immediately.

It's been a few years and I still see the same doctor once a quarter. I don't think he is a god but I really like the guy. He also did all the paperwork for my insurance claim in the States.

Is the medical education crap? No, of course not. They used high tech state of the art equipment quickly accurately and economically. I was involved with the Thai education system for a number of years and is it total crap? No.

Could it get better? Sure. Is it better than the education systems in Detroit or Washington DC? Yes.

Hmmm, I lived in Detroit for many years so I do know the answer to that one, Cottage Hospital (St Clair Shores) or St Johns Hospital (Detroit) doctors would beat the pants off most of what's seen here .

But more to the point. Most doctors/hospitals here are OK with straight forward events, broken bones. lacerations. flu, etc. But add the inconvenience of complexity and the situation changes, what to do when the scans or blood tests don't give an easy answer, capable resources on that front are seriously hard to come by.

Sorry but I did not make a comment about medical care in Detroit. I wrote, "Could it get better? Sure. Is it better than the education systems in Detroit or Washington DC? Yes."

The above is a comment about education systems in Detroit. BTW St Clair Shores is not Detroit and St Johns Hospital is right across the street from Grosse Pte (one of the wealthiest suburbs in the US) if memory serves me correctly.

But If you know that most hospitals don't have serious resources here just how many Thai hospitals have you been in?

[thailiketoo]

Soooo...your answer now is to attack the person?

To answer your question yet again, No, you still haven't got it.

It is okay if people don't agree with something you have posted you know. No need to berate them and carry on like an angry goose.

OK I'll ask again (3rd time). What is your point? What do you disagree or agree with?

My point remains, "Hospital care is the 3rd largest cause of death in America."

[smileydude]

As a primary care physician here in Thailand I'd like to chime in and say I think there are truths to all the posts here and several reasons why doctors here prescribe antibiotics over zealously might be because:

1. Don't want to appear incompetent- this is the fault of the ignorance of the thai population which doctors are also to blame.

It is a misconception that the more meds the better the diagnosis and treatment. We are often too lazy to explain the difference between viral and bacterial infections and why antibiotics need or not need to be used.

2. Don't want to get the stink eye- This occurs in the national healthcare system which is highly distrusted by the general public as offering substandard service to save on costs. Doctors often don't want to offend, get reprimanded by the patient for being stingy and unethical, so they prescribe to get it over with. This is for the same reason as no. 1. GP's in the system on average see over 100 patients a day and are just too tired to explain. It is wrong but human nature tends to find the easy way out instead of having to take another 5 minutes explaining viruses and bacteria and end up with a distrusted face from the patient.

3. For private hospitals its about boosting income: Some doctors performance is based on the amount of income they generate.

I would blame the policy of those private hospitals and the doctors who willingly do it.

4. Borderline diagnosis between viral and bacterial infections. High fever, inflamed throat and signs of lower respiratory tract involvement, though all possibly due to viral causes concern for doctors and unless everybody is willing to pay 2500 baht to have their throat cultured for influenza and do CBC's to differentiate viral vs bacterial, doctors often opt for antibiotics to stay on the safe side as often there are both types of infections superimposing at the same time. Cases of rheumatic heart disease, though rare are due to failure to administer antibiotics in upper respiratory infections. If extensive lab results are not available sometimes the risk of developing resistance is outweighed by the benefits.

I myself advocate spending a little more time asking about the onset, detailed history with a thorough physical examination instead of just "aahhh" open your mouth, and use your best judgement. Take the time to explain the difference of a bacterial versus viral infection and let the patient decide.

[chiang mai]

As a primary care physician here in Thailand I'd like to chime in and say I think there are truths to all the posts here and several reasons why doctors here prescribe antibiotics over zealously might be because:

1. Don't want to appear incompetent- this is the fault of the ignorance of the thai population which doctors are also to blame.

It is a misconception that the more meds the better the diagnosis and treatment. We are often too lazy to explain the difference between viral and bacterial infections and why antibiotics need or not need to be used.

2. Don't want to get the stink eye- This occurs in the national healthcare system which is highly distrusted by the general public as offering substandard service to save on costs. Doctors often don't want to offend, get reprimanded by the patient for being stingy and unethical, so they prescribe to get it over with. This is for the same reason as no. 1. GP's in the system on average see over 100 patients a day and are just too tired to explain. It is wrong but human nature tends to find the easy way out instead of having to take another 5 minutes explaining viruses and bacteria and end up with a distrusted face from the patient.

3. For private hospitals its about boosting income: Some doctors performance is based on the amount of income they generate.

I would blame the policy of those private hospitals and the doctors who willingly do it.

4. Borderline diagnosis between viral and bacterial infections. High fever, inflamed throat and signs of lower respiratory tract involvement, though all possibly due to viral causes concern for doctors and unless everybody is willing to pay 2500 baht to have their throat cultured for influenza and do CBC's to differentiate viral vs bacterial, doctors often opt for antibiotics to stay on the safe side as often there are both types of infections superimposing at the same time. Cases of rheumatic heart disease, though rare are due to failure to administer antibiotics in upper respiratory infections. If extensive lab results are not available sometimes the risk of developing resistance is outweighed by the benefits.

I myself advocate spending a little more time asking about the onset, detailed history with a thorough physical examination instead of just "aahhh" open your mouth, and use your best judgement. Take the time to explain the difference of a bacterial versus viral infection and let the patient decide.

Happy to see you here, can you please supply the forum with details of your primary care qualifications here in Thailand, bodies, boards, locals, etc?

[h90]

In my experience Thai doctors are more thorough and will only prescribe when required and often tell you , you dont need pills and some medications you may already have from the west are in fact not required as its old outdated practice/thinking.

I would suggest the doctors in the west are more likely to be pressured by medical reps/companies than any doctor in Thailand would be.

I see with my staff frequently:

a normal light cold....feeling not so good, no fever or very low one.....

They go to the doctor and come back with a bucket full of tablets.

often 5-8 different medications (non of them vitamins). And they are 20-40 year old healthy men who would be OK by themself within 1 week.