Dutch doctors are calling for restrictions on television programmes that they claim deliberately use matters of patient safety to boost viewing figures. This follows angry reactions from medical bodies to a consumer affairs programme that questioned whether high concentrations of cholesterol in blood increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The programme, Radar, broadcast by television company Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting, also raised doubts about the safety of prescribing statins to combat high cholesterol.
Doctors fear that some of the one million Dutch patients who are taking statins may stop without consulting their doctor and, therefore, risk future heart attacks.
In a complaint to the Healthcare Inspectorate, the Dutch Cardiology Society says that the programme's assertions have caused great unrest among patients. Its chairman, cardiologist Wybren Jaarsma, writes that in the past week many colleagues have faced questions from patients over whether they should continue care that has been scientifically shown to be effective and necessary.
Dr Jaarsma responded himself on television saying, “Don't just stop. You must continue taking prescribed cholesterol medication. If you have questions always go directly to the doctor treating you.”
The Dutch Society of General Practitioners, which draws up standards for cardiovascular risk management, also has “serious objections” to the programme because its claims are “directly at odds with its own scientific advice.” It too reports patients asking their GPs if they can stop taking their drugs.
The Dutch Heart Foundation found claims that high cholesterol does not lead to cardiovascular disease “incomprehensible,” and Nefarma, a Dutch umbrella group for the drug industry, pointed to decades of independent research showing the link, such as the US Framingham study (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/framingham).
The Radar programme argued that “the pharmaceutical industry and probably your GP as well” tells patients that high concentrations of cholesterol cause cardiovascular disease. “But,” it asks, “what is this based on? And are cholesterol lowering drugs really such a salvation?”
It highlighted an international group of sceptics led by a controversial Danish scientist, Uffe Ravnskov, who challenge this “accepted wisdom.” Dr Ravnskov's views have also been published in the BMJ (2006;332:1330-2, doi: 10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1330).
The programme went on to report concerns from one of the sceptics, a retired cardiologist, about the side effects of statins and of their use for primary prevention of possible future cardiovascular disease, thus “creating patients” without necessarily any real benefit.
Radar's presenter, Antionette Hertsenberg, said the aim of the programme was to give attention to the very serious side effects experienced by some patients and to question the preventive use of statins. It believes these issues are not being properly recognised by doctors. “We aim to allow people to think for themselves about the medicine they are taking.”
The Dutch Cardiology Society has written to the editors of the Radar programme saying that questioning the use and safety of statins has brought concerns into the consulting room. It requests a rectification of this “one sided and incorrect view.”
Meanwhile, the society is calling on the Healthcare Inspectorate to establish criteria for television to adhere to standards of objectivity, quality, and safety. The inspectorate shares the society's concerns and is planning a joint meeting, together with the Council for Journalism, to discuss how journalists should approach delicate healthcare matters.