GP's nowadays (unlike GP's of old) seem to be scared to use their own judgement and tend to rigidly follow 'Current Guidelines', even though often 'Current Guidelines' are fond of stating that, even if there is a 'slight' risk involved with a medication, it shouldn't be prescribed.
This approach very often leads to unnecessary scaremongering surrounding certain medications.
As a result, patients very often suffer needlessly and have to take less effective medications, which is criminal really, when you think there is medication out there that could sort their problem in a jiffy - but those medications are being withheld!
It's a ridiculous way to look at things, because ALL medication carries risk, you only have to look at all the contra indications on a packet of everyday painkillers. But they don't care about those.
I suspect a lot is to do with cost.
And a lot is also to do with our nanny-state attitude of not letting adults make their own informed decisions.
It's about Control.
The correct approach to prescribing medications, in an Ideal World would be to take a balanced approach and see if the benefits outweigh the risks, and act accordingly.
Also, if Doctors are so scared of getting it wrong, , patients would all sign a disclaimer saying they understand the risks, but would still like to take the medication anyway.
That way Doctor AND Patient would go away happy.