There are, Dr. Alexopoulos observed, "many drugs that cause patients to develop depression".
Gift giving may also cause patients to overlook the medical risks involved in cosmetic procedures.
Doctors often say they worry that predictions about survival may become self-fulfilling prophecies or cause patients to lose hope.
Whether using PrEP will cause patients to abandon condoms and increase their number of sexual partners isn't known.
In addition, while most diabetes medicines cause patients to gain weight, patients on Byetta typically lose several pounds each year on the medicine.
Covidien Ltd. is recalling 471,000 disposable insulin syringes because of mislabeling that could cause patients to receive an overdose, federal regulators said.
And that may cause patients to overlook the fact that any invasive operation can have complications, including infection, scarring, brain damage (from anesthesia) and death.
Anesthesiologists say that the drugs used for sedation typically cause patients to lose some memory, even though they are conscious during the procedure.
The company's ReliOn hypodermic syringes could cause patients to receive as much as 2.5 times the intended dose, according to an e-mailed statement by the Food and Drug Administration.
But if the BMA were really serious about patient safety, they would immediately cancel their remaining plans for industrial action which, as the GMC says, will only cause patients to suffer".
High deductibles deter necessary medical care, interfere with continuity of care and cause patients to question if physicians are first and foremost patient advocates or dedicated to their own bottom lines.
