TY - JOUR T1 - The Second-Hand Truth JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 781 LP - 781 DO - 10.3399/bjgp09X472665 VL - 59 IS - 567 AU - Andrew Papanikitas Y1 - 2009/10/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/59/567/781.abstract N2 - ‘No one takes statins in Scandinavia.’ Neville, a well-meaning GP registrar, had offered to treat the smartly suited Mr James for his alarmingly high blood cholesterol. The retaliative pronouncement seemed to be a secondhand truth, questionable both in its veracity and its relevance: ‘My herbalist says that no one in Scandinavia takes statins, because they have dreadful side effects, and that I should take these instead. He's extremely well-qualified you know.’Neville inhaled deeply, and tried to control the indignation burning up into his face as Mr James placed two tubs on the desk, one marked ‘Sterol-117’ — he proudly explained that this was a special hypoallergenic formula — and another marked ‘Choleast™.’ He produced a printed chart that showed several other complimentary therapies and finally unfolded an email from the therapist. The email suggested that he could take … ER -