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The authors reflect on legislative proposals which have been developed which would increase people's access to over the counter medicines. They suggest that the risks of increasing access may outweigh the benefits. They argue that given the concerns that are associated with potential problems with over the counter medications it would be wise to avoid a rush to increase their availability.

Presents an editorial on the monitoring of drug treatments. Value of monitoring treatment to anticipate or detect adverse reactions to drugs before they become inevitable or irreversible; Monitoring tests which should be safe, simple, precise and validated; Actions to take in response to positive tests; Monitoring strategy.

Presents an editorial about regulating herbal medicines in England. Lack of evidence on the effectiveness of herbal medicine; Difficulty of judging whether such medicines are safe; Description of regulations in the United States for supplements, which is what herbal medicines are regarded as; Efforts of the European Union in regulating herbal products.

Discusses the medical concept of concordance, in which the physician and patient come together to make a decision regarding the prescribed medical treatment for the patient's condition. Importance of dialogue between a physician and patient in optimizing the potential benefits of medical care; Difficulty in assessing the risks and benefits in the taking of prescribed medicines; Behavioral aspects of taking prescribed medicines.

Editorial. Comments on the Audit Commission report, 'A Spoonful of Sugar,' which indicates a fivefold increase in ten years of medication errors or adverse reactions to medicines in Great Britain. Discussion of the Audit Commission's failure to distinguish between medication errors, inevitable adverse reactions, and potentially preventable adverse reactions; Factors that contribute to medication errors; View that those who prescribe and give drugs should be better educated and tested on competency in patient safety.

This letter to the editor is in response to the article "A Prescription for Better Prescribing," written by J. K. Aronson, G. Henderson, D. J. Webb and M. D. Rawlins in the September 2, 2006 issue of the "British Medical Journal."