An NHS doctor has encouraged to “pushy” patients who insist on being prescribed antibiotics to trust the science.
Dr Bhasha Mukherjee has explained why she refuses to prescribe antibiotics to certain demanding patients.
Dr Mukherjee has urged patients to “trust their doctor” and the judgement of the medical professional during their consultation. In a post on Instagram, she asked for patience from her patients, stating that her role is “to heal, not to please”.
Her post provided a perspective on the issue, titled: “A pushy patient asks for antibiotics for a viral infection.”
She then went on to explain why she declines to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections.
She stated: “Why I say NO when a pushy patient asks for antibiotics for a viral infection: “Because antibiotics don’t work on viruses – and overusing them can lead to antibiotic resistance, gut issues, and more harm than good.
“I’m here to heal, not to please – and that means giving you the right treatment, not the requested one. Trust science. Trust your doctor.” The NHS confirms that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections such as the common cold or flu.
The official website states: “Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infections. They’re not effective against viral infections, such as the common cold or flu.”
The NHS has shared specific scenarios in which antibiotics should be utilised.
Below is a list of health issues that antibiotics can address. In certain cases, antibiotics are administered as a preemptive measure against infection, rather than as a cure.
- Diagnoses that are not serious but unlikely to clear up without antibiotics, like acne.
- Diagnoses that are not serious but could spread to other people like impetigo or chlamydia.
- Where antibiotics may speed up recovery, such as a kidney infection.
- Diagnoses which carry a risk of serious complications, like pneumonia.
The NHS elaborates: “Antibiotics are sometimes given as a precaution to prevent, rather than treat, an infection. This is called antibiotic prophylaxis.”
Though typically not dispensed for viral infections, antibiotics may still be prescribed to individuals particularly susceptible to the repercussions of such infections, including:
- People aged over 75 years
- Babies less than 72 hours old
- People with heart failure
- People who have to take insulin for diabetes
- People with a weakened immune system
Additionally, the NHS has clarified that antibiotics aren’t habitually used for viral infections due to several considerations.
They caution that antibiotics are “unlikely to speed up the healing process” and warn against the use of antibiotics for minor ailments as this could render them “ineffective” against more serious conditions.
