CHRONIC VIRAL-HEPATITIS AND USE OF INTERFERON - WHOM ARE WE TREATING

Consider the following scenario: During routine screening, an asymptom atic man is found to have an abnormal alanine amino-transferase (ALT) level and, subsequently, to have chronic hepatitis C. Because his phys ician is anxious about the possibility of the development of cirrhosis , the man is given interferon. During the months of therapy, the patie nt (for now he truly has become a patient) displays a variety of drug- related symptoms (including thyroid disease) and spends several thousa nd dollars in personal and third-party funds. The AZT level normalizes , and the physician breathes a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, the pati ent spends the rest of his life taking thyroid medication. Exactly who m did the physician treat?