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> First of all, I don't think EMTs are regularly administering fentanyl at the scene. I could be wrong about that. I'm a paramedic in New York. We carry both f

> First of all, I don't think EMTs are regularly administering fentanyl at the scene. I could be wrong about that. I'm a paramedic in New York. We carry both fentanyl and ketamine. Fentanyl is my preferred choice for analgesia (over morphine). It acts faster, is more effective for acute pain, and has fewer side effects. Ketamine is used for sedation, not analgesia. It's also rarely my first choice (Versed is generally my go-to for sedation, as benzos are much safer in a prehospital setting). Also, your claim about how the high cost of the US healthcare system is worth it because the "cool new toys, drugs, and procedures" is a common myth... Fentanyl, for instance, was developed by a Belgian company.

chimeracoder 9y ago
>Also, your claim about how the high cost of the US healthcare system is worth it because the "cool new toys, drugs, and procedures" is a common myth... Fentanyl, for instance, was developed by a Belgian company. This is incredibly misleading. Most pharmaceutical and medical research companies make the bulk of their revenue from the US market, either directly or indirectly, regardless of where they are based. The US market is the primary funding source for medical research, even for drugs which are developed by foreign companies. Where the drugs are developed, where the funding comes from, and where they are first made available are three completely separate questions.