[Note on the necessary definition of therapeutic objectives for optimal prescription]

Prescription of a therapy depends on the patient, his/her condition, and the therapeutic goal(s) the doctor has identified. In turn, a therapeutic goal depends on the availability of an effective therapy. Without a clearly defined objective, a prescription is likely not to be appropriate. The patient may not appreciate the importance of good compliance if he/she does not know what it is for. The pathway of specialised investigations can include unnecessary tests if it is not built up around the objective of identifying the therapeutic goal(s). If there is no therapy available, the diagnosis is of no use. The arguments for and against a therapy cannot be appropriately assessed and compared if they are not put in the perspective of the therapeutic goal(s).