The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7184 p184
9 February 2002

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Cardiac pacemaker

Pharmacists, who are also patients, describe in their own words what it is like to have to take a medicine for life

Living with a cardiac pacemaker: keep rigidly to the regimen

I suffered a complete heart block 20 years ago that made a cardiac pacemaker implant essential. I consider that what was prescribed by the consultants involved was as essential as my pacemaker for a somewhat controlled continuing existence. Partly because of my professional training, I endeavoured to keep rigidly to the regimen.

Has the treatment of my condition affected my approach to patients? I hope that my approach to patients has always been as one who has training which enables me to treat patients with patience, understanding and advice to the best of my knowledge. This was always my aim before my present affliction.

For six years after I had recovered from the initial surgical and hospital treatment I was fit enough to continue this approach as a locum in a number of pharmacies. During that time, it was most helpful and satisfying to note that patients such as the late Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs were being prescribed some of the medicines that am obliged to continue taking. I have always completed a course of treatment for acute conditions.

Pharmacy today appears to be continuing along these lines, and I express my anonymous thanks to younger colleagues who try to continue in the best tradition.

Water, air and cleanliness

The following has been attributed to the emperor Napoleon I: "Medicine is a collection of uncertain prescriptions, the results of which, taken collectively, are more fatal than useful to mankind. Water, air and cleanliness are the chief articles in my pharmacopoeia."

This might have been true in his day. My experience is that his first assertion is not true today, although I agree with his simple conclusion.