[zizzer]

The restriction on antibiotics is for the protection of everyone, it's not just to screw you out of $50.

If people are allowed to throw antibiotics at any problem they think might be cured with them, then they eventually lose their effectiveness (as is becoming the case already). It doesn't matter that they were for your dog either, the same antibiotics are often used to treat human and animals, so misuse in one group can still cause problems for the other.

[x0054]

The overprescription of antibiotics is indeed a problem. But notice, it's still a problem, even though you can only get antibiotics with prescription. This is mostly due to the fact that many doctors, and most veterinarians I have ever had the displeasure of meeting are woefully incompetent. I am 30, and used antibiotics twice in my life, and needed it twice for my dog (because he has a genetic condition that effects his eyes). How about just educating people about the dangers of antibiotics, and letting them make up their own mind. The situation couldn't get any worse than it already is. Right now doctors give out steroids and antibiotics as if they were candy, especially in large hospitals. But now we are getting off topic, sorry for the rant, it was just a touchy subject today.

[a3n]

"How about just educating people about the dangers of [thing], and letting them make up their own mind."

Most of us are stupid, not by birth but by training and experience. It's not our fault. Most of us don't do anything for a living that requires us to be more than stupid.

Staking your future and safety on the actual abilities of the actual population is pretty damn risky, I think.

[pstack]

I don't think I've ever used antibiotics, but I'm concerned that in the next decade (when I'll be in my mid 40s), I will have a fairly major surgery that exposes me to a lot of potential infection. The idea of not having proper antibiotic solutions by that time (compounded by the notorious lack of protection from infection in hospitals) has be terrified.

[xmodem]

Given that we've failed to educate doctors and nurses about the effects I don't like the odds of being able to educate everyone.