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Alford Coodley, MD, PhD
Los Angeles

JAMA. 1978;239(5):402.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Primum non nocere is a classic example of res ipsa loquitur. Unfortunately, I would agree with Dr Gifford that the dictum can be misinterpreted, but is not Dr Gifford guilty of so doing? The true physician attempts to consider all factors, beneficial and detrimental, and a conclusion is reached as to which clearly outweighs the other. In discussing the patient's package insert some time ago,¹I indicated that when one talks to a patient about the potential toxicity of a drug to be administered, there was an essential value in "universalizing the potential toxicity of every drug on the market, including even something as simple as aspirin."²I suggested that by writing "DWT" (dealt with toxicity) on a prescription, the pharmacist would realize that the physician had dealt with toxicity to the level with which he felt that particular patient was capable of coping.¹ . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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