[WikiEN-l] Docs look to Wikipedia for condition info: Manhattan Research

[Charles Matthews]

David Goodman wrote:
> I notice that in several survey the information that most  physicians
> regret Wikipedia not having is information on standard dosage,
> information that we have made the policy decision to omit.
> I think this a particularly stupid decision. For current drugs, the
> information is standardized and available from the authoritative
> source--the official drug information. It's not a matter of
> unsupported opinion, it's pertinent, and the sources are impeccable.
> (Giving the variation in actual dosage used, or giving historical
> does, is another matter, though there are sometimes sources for that
> also). The general reason given is that WP is not a source of medical
> advice. No, but it is and should be a source of reliable medical
> information. The range of official usual dose is a fact, and can be
> reported.
>
>   
Well, I imagine we can link to this information if it is online; and I 
imagine the disclaimers about following such advice in self-medicating 
or (feels queasy here) treating others are better left on some other 
site.  I'm also uneasy at taking US-centric medical advice as normative. 
It is simply not the case that prescribing is an international standard, 
I believe.  Body mass index must have some relevance. And so on. David 
has a point in that certain official recommendations could be presented 
as such, as verifiable facts. I would be alarmed even about physicians 
consulting an editable site such as WP about such key numbers.

Charles