From the NYT:
All three recovered after a single dose of Bexxar or Zevalin, both federally approved drugs for lymphoma. And all three can count themselves as lucky.
...
Other, more thoroughly tested lymphoma drugs are preferred as first-line treatments. But doctors often repeatedly prescribe such drugs even after they have lost their effectiveness — and when Bexxar and Zevalin might work better.
One reason is that cancer doctors, or oncologists, have financial incentives to use drugs other than Bexxar and Zevalin, which they are not paid to administer. In addition, using either drug usually requires oncologists to coordinate treatment with academic hospitals, whom the doctors may view as competitors.
It's so obvious that the values and priorities of human health take a backseat to those of capitalism (excuse me, "the market") in cases like this.
What's still sort of surprising to me is how often doctors themselves don't really fight it, or are convinced that decisions like those noted above are OK.
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