Risk Reduction Is in the Nature of Pharmacists.

Abstract

When pharmacists are dealing with complex medication regimens used for older people, it seems almost inescapable that a degree of danger and risk is indeed fundamental to the nature of these treatments. Pharmacists need to assess the nature of the relationship between the benefits associated with medications and the inherent risk with their use. At times, it is discernible that the nature and the extent of risk involved are so great that it would appear inadvisable to expose an older person to the serious problems that might be expected if the drug is prescribed. At other times, the likelihood of harm is less easy to quantify, but the likelihood of adverse consequences, if treatment is not deployed, seems greater.