I see many patients with hepatitis C (HCV). None of them are under treatment and they all feel quite well. Why don't I treat them? After all, potential consequences of HCV include: Cirrhosis Hepatocellular carcinoma. or liver cancer End stage liver disease with all the trimmings Liver transplantation Death One would think that a portentous list like this would justify any treatment, even hazardous therapies. But, I've never seen it this way, and my hepatitis C patients are all doing well under periodic observation. Yes, I know that the disease can be serious. I recall one patient with advanced disease whom I referred for consideration of a liver transplant many years ago. There may have been a few others along the way who received treatment for the disease also. The vast majority of hepatitis C patients I see in my community practice feel entirely well and the diagnosis is discovered by accident. In other words, these patients did not exhibit symptoms or abno
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.