Dr. Johnston explains why Verity reviews published research on supplements and repurposed medications in cancer, and how every review states its evidence level.
Verity Health Institute publishes independent reviews of published research on supplements and repurposed medications in cancer. Each review separates laboratory findings from human evidence and says plainly what is unproven.
Dr. Johnston, a retired family physician, introduces the Institute and how its reviews work.
First, do no harm. It's part of our oath. Every physician knows these words. But what happens when our effort to avoid harm also prevents us from seriously examining the medical evidence of life-saving treatment?
Modern medicine appropriately demands evidence. Before a drug is FDA-approved for a particular disease, proving that it works and is safe can require years of research and enormously expensive human trials. For a patent-protected drug, the financial incentives are enormous, and who can blame them?
But what about inexpensive generic drugs that have been around for decades with great safety data? What about an over-the-counter supplement that you can go buy for pennies a pill? Who spends millions of dollars on a drug if they cannot recoup that investment with an exclusive product they can patent?
This leaves a dangerous gap between patients who are suffering and the medical evidence that could save them. Shouldn't the science determine which remedies we're willing to investigate, not who has the time and money to take a product through FDA approval? And shouldn't patients suffering with a life-threatening illness have the free choice?
That's why we created the Verity Health Institute. We're going to evaluate the actual medical research. We're going to look at the strength of the evidence and how actionable it is. We'll be looking at generic repurposed drugs as well as over-the-counter supplements. You might not be able to get them from a doctor's prescription, but you can get them from the hospital gift shop.
I'm a family practice physician with 30 years of experience, but I'm retired. I don't work at places like this anymore. But you have a right to know the evidence, especially when your life is on the line. Follow the Verity Health Institute, and we'll go through the research together.
Educational research summary, not medical advice. Talk with your oncologist and pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any treatment or supplement.