With these examples in mind, Dr. Gelfand advised clinicians to "use the science of medicine in judging safety... [and] the art of medicine" when communicating the risk of therapies to their patients.
"The benefits of treatments are well-characterized relative to the long-term safety and the risk of rare but serious medical events," he said. "Sir William Osler was the first to recognize the need to be cautious when prescribing new medications advising physicians 'Do not be the first to prescribe a new drug and do not be the last to stop prescribing an old drug.' "
Dr. Gelfand disclosed that he has been an investigator and/or consultant to Amgen, Abbott, Centocor, Pfizer, Celegene, Novartis, and Genentech, and that his presentation was his work only.
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